Lincoln Cathedral: A Local Icon Through Curious Eyes

At Magna Radio, being part of the community means celebrating the places that make our area special. Few landmarks capture that better than Lincoln Cathedral.

Recently, one of our presenters, Adam, shared a brilliant moment about his son (in a social video), who’s become a big fan of the Cathedral. That sparked an idea… why not take a closer look at this incredible building, through both grown-up eyes and a child’s sense of wonder?

As a station, Magna Radio is proud to be a Friend of Lincoln Cathedral, and it’s something we’d highly recommend visiting. It’s right here on our doorstep, yet for many people across Lincolnshire, it’s something they don’t visit nearly as often as they should.

For the Grown-Ups: History, Stories and Surprising Details

Lincoln Cathedral isn’t just a beautiful building. It’s a masterpiece of engineering, history and mystery.

Construction began in 1072, not long after the Norman Conquest, and what you see today is the result of centuries of rebuilding, expansion and restoration. Earthquakes, fires and even the collapse of the central tower in 1237 have all shaped the Cathedral into what it is now.

One of its most fascinating claims to fame is that it was once the tallest building in the world, holding that title for over 200 years. Its central spire, which has since been lost, reached a staggering height of around 160 metres. For centuries, nothing on Earth stood taller, reportedly even higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

But it’s not just grand history that makes Lincoln Cathedral interesting. It’s the small, quirky details too.

High up in the Cathedral’s stonework sits one of Lincoln’s strangest talking points: a tennis ball that has been there since 1914. The story goes that a boy called Gilbert Bell threw it while playing with his brother, and it became wedged in the mouldings, where it has remained for more than a century. Over the years, it became something of a family legend, with generations of the Bell family returning to check that it was still there.

What makes the story even more remarkable is that the ball may be older than any proper tennis ball held at Wimbledon’s museum collection, making it a genuine curiosity as well as a local talking point. Lincoln Cathedral has no real plans to remove it, because its story has become part of the Cathedral’s own history.

And then there’s the famous Lincoln Imp. Hidden inside the Cathedral, this small stone carving has become a symbol of the city. Legend has it the imp was sent by the devil to cause trouble, only to be turned to stone by an angel. Today, visitors still try to spot it tucked away among the architecture.

Lincoln Cathedral isn’t just something to look at. It’s something to explore, question and talk about.

For the Kids: Amazing Facts to Tell Your Friends

Lincoln Cathedral is full of cool facts, especially if you look at it through a child’s eyes.

• It’s nearly 1,000 years old. Building first started in 1072, which means it’s around 950 years old today.

• It was once the tallest building in the whole world. For over 200 years, nothing on Earth was taller, not even the pyramids.

• You can see it from miles away. Because it sits high up on a hill, you can spot the Cathedral from around 20 to 30 miles away on a clear day.

• There’s a tennis ball stuck in the Cathedral that’s been there since 1914. A boy called Gilbert Bell threw it up there while playing, and more than 100 years later, it’s still in exactly the same place.

• It was built without modern cranes. Workers used huge wooden wheels that people walked inside to lift heavy stones high into the air.

• There’s a tiny creature called the Lincoln Imp hiding inside. See if you can find it when you visit.

• The stones are massive. Everything was built by hand using ropes, wooden frames and teamwork.

Lincoln Cathedral is more than just a landmark. It’s part of everyday life here, whether you’re walking past it, visiting it, or seeing it light up the skyline.

And sometimes, it’s the simple moments, like a dad sharing facts with his son, that remind us why these places matter.

Have you got a favourite Lincoln Cathedral fact? Let us know, we’d love to hear it.