Medieval musicians, a Feast of Fools and free family fun will mark the end of a four-year, £22m transformation of Lincoln Castle into a world-class heritage attraction.
The Castle’s gates will swing open with a fanfare to reveal new visitor experiences – including an underground exhibition home for Lincoln Cathedral’s 1215 Magna Carta, one of only four left in the world.
Ten years in the planning, including four years of restoration, will culminate in two days of free family entertainment to celebrate the grand opening of Lincoln Castle Revealed, starting at 10am on Wednesday 1st April 2015.
Fittingly, considering the date, the launch day will also feature jesters – a nod to the medieval ‘Feast of Fools’, said to be one of the origins for the modern April Fools Day.
“Thanks to a £22m investment and four years of incredible work by a range of traditional craftsmen as well as audio visual experts adding state-of-the-art interpretation, Lincoln Castle will be revealed to visitors like never before, “ said Mary Powell, Lincolnshire County Council’s Tourism Development Manager.
“It has always been an impressive building, but now it will also be a world-class heritage attraction with brand new visitor experiences, including, of course, an underground vault to display Lincoln Cathedral’s 1215 Magna Carta – just in time to mark the 800th anniversary of the Great Charter’s sealing in June 2015.
“To launch this latest chapter in the amazing 1,000 year story of Lincoln Castle, we’ll be offering a festival atmosphere and inviting visitors to be among the first to see the transformation. You’d be a fool to miss it!”
A cast of medieval musicians and jesters will greet visitors in Lincoln’s cobbled Castle Square before the countdown begins on 1st April. The Castle’s East Gate will open at 10am to reveal the picturesque Castle lawns, set-up for a festival.
Free entertainment from 10am until 6pm will feature hands-on games, children’s army drill course and have-a-go activities, including a chance to dress up as a knight. Visitors can also tackle the Castle Grand Easter Quest while the Victorian Chocolate Kitchen is bound to prove popular too. The fun continues on Thursday 2nd April with more free family entertainment when the gates open at 9am, with entertainment from 10am.
High on a hill and standing opposite one of Europe’s finest gothic cathedrals, Lincoln Castle – built in 1068 on the site of a Roman fortress – is regarded as one of the country’s best examples of a Norman castle. From 1st April 2015, new stories will be revealed.
Explore the towers and dungeons of the Medieval Wall Walk with a brand new atmospheric audio guide and spectacular views over Lincoln. Come face to face with convicts and hear their stories with new interpretation including films, panels and digital interactive screens in the imposing Victorian Prison.
See Magna Carta, the document that changed the course of history. Immerse yourself in the story of King John, the barons and the birth of the Great Charter in a widescreen cinematic experience in the David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault.
The new underground Vault will display Lincoln’s Magna Carta and the 1217 Charter of the Forest – making the Castle the only place in the world where these two historic documents can be seen together – along with a related loan document on rotation.
It will mark the end of a 7,500-mile journey for the Lincoln manuscript, stretching from the USA – where more than 200,000 people saw it on display in Massachusetts and Washington, DC in late 2014 – to the historic unification of the four surviving 1215 documents at the British Library in February and then back home to Lincolnshire.
Lincoln Cathedral has worked in partnership with Lincoln Castle on the new exhibition and together Castle and Cathedral offer stunning examples of Norman architecture. A joint ticket combining entry to both venues will not only give visitors a chance to learn more about Lincoln’s Magna Carta, but enjoy access to two of England’s finest heritage attractions.
For full details: www.lincolncastle.com
