An artist's impression of the core of Lincoln, as it might have looked
in the early 11th century.
The invading Romans established a base on a ridge to the north of the River
Witham, which initially served as a frontier fort in the early phase of
their conquest of Britain. Ermine Street, the main north-south route built
by the legions, and the Fosse Way, a southwest/northeast route marking
the boundary of the Roman advance at that time, converged at Lincoln. As
the Romans extended their sway further north, Lincoln transformed from fort
to colony and settlement spread beyond the walls towards the river. What
happened after the Roman legions left Britain is uncertain, but there is
some evidence of continued habitation within Lincoln. The sturdy Roman
walls continued to offer protection. It was one of five key places
around which the Danish invaders/settlers focused their interests and
commercial activities, which helped revitalize the town. The Roman walls
(whose route was followed by medieval replacements), their gates, and the
roads linking the gates exercised some influence over the layout of the
medieval settlement. The Normans later built a castle on the site of the
old legionary buildings (southwest corner of the part of the city shown
here), while the Norman cathedral close absorbed the site of the Roman
temple at the centre of the Roman colony, atop whose foundations a church
was built.
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