About Lincolnshire

Steeped in history and with a rich culture of food, festivals and family businesses, Lincolnshire has made its mark on the UK map.

But where are we?

You’d be surprised, as Lincolnshire folk, how often we have to explain to non-Lincolnshire folk just where our beautiful county is located. Many people aren’t even aware that our county exists, assuming that the city of Lincoln is tucked away in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, or that Lincoln, too, isn’t even a place. 

So, Lincolnshire is located in the East Midlands region of England, surrounded by a number of counties (see fact 2 below) and a 50 mile coastline (fact 4) on its eastern edge. Without spoiling the full list of exciting facts which you’re about to read, it is in fact one of England’s largest and most versatile counties, with its most well-established locations including Lincoln, Boston, Skegness and Stamford, amongst many, many others. 

50 Facts About Lincolnshire

We thought that we’d help you to discover and learn more about the county by providing you with the low-down on the some of the best things about Lincolnshire:

1. It is the second largest county in England by area, yet just eighteenth largest by population
2. We are bordered by eight other counties (East Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk)
3. Its boundary with Northamptonshire is just 18 metres long, which is the shortest county boundary in England
4. Lincolnshire has over 50 miles of coastline, stretching from The Humber in the north to The Wash in the south
5. Many of its beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status
6. The Lincolnshire Wolds has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
7. Those born here are often referred to as Yellowbellies
8. Alfred, Lord Tennyson was born and raised in Somersby in the Lincolnshire Wolds
9. Lincolnshire is the UK’s largest producer of potatoes, wheat, cereal and poultry, and is the second largest producer of sugar beet
10. 

    Image by Pixabay

    Over 38% of bulbs grown in the UK come from Lincolnshire

11. Lincoln was a very important Roman town, known then as Lindum Colonia, and has the only Roman arch in Britain under which traffic is still allowed to travel
12. Lincoln has two Roman roads running through it: Ermine Street (from London to York) and Fosse Way (from Lincoln to Exeter)
13. Lincoln Castle was built by William the Conqueror and is home to one of only four surviving copies of Magna Carta
14. The Victorian Prison at Lincoln Castle was featured in episodes of Downton Abbey
15. Lincoln Cathedral has a library designed by Sir Christopher Wren
16. The only airport in Lincolnshire is Humberside Airport, near Brigg
17. Parts of the Da Vinci Code were filmed in the Chapter House at Lincoln Cathedral
18. Burghley House near Stamford holds the world-famous Burghley Horse Trials every year
19. It was at his home at Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, that Sir Isaac Newton began to devise his Laws on Gravitation, after reputedly watching apples fall from a tree in the garden
20. Grantham was the birthplace of  former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
21. Many of the Pilgrim Fathers whom founded America set sail from Boston in the 17th Century
22. Lincolnshire had more airfields than any other county during World War Two. It was known as Bomber County and pilots returning from raids over Germany used Lincoln Cathedral as a landmark to guide them home
23. We are home to The Red Arrows and The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight
24. The largest air show in the UK – the Waddington Air Show – was held just outside Lincoln between 1995 and 2014.
25. Pride and Prejudice was filmed at Burghley House in 2005
26. Comedian Jennifer Saunders was born in Sleaford, Lincolnshire
27. Poacher Cheese has won several awards over the years for its flavour
28. Lincolnshire is made up of 4 distinct areas; The Wolds, The Fens, The Marshes and The Lincoln Edge/Cliffs
29. The Humber Bridge spans an incredible 7,280 ft and was opened in June 1981
30. At the height of summer there are over 100,000 holidaymakers staying in the coastal areas
31.  Skegness has a famous mascot, the ‘Jolly Fisherman‘, whom features on postcards with the slogan “Skegness is so bracing”
32. 

    Image by Pixabay

    Donna Nook is home to a regular seal colony that comes to its beaches every year

33. An old Lincolnshire tradition said that front doors were used for only three things: a new baby, a bride, and a coffin
34. The Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival attracts ramblers from all over the country
35. The first Briton to perform a space walk, Michael Foale, was born here
36. There is a ‘champion of the local dialect‘ living in Minting; Farmer Wink
37. The Lincolnshire Bagpipe was once very popular in the county but died out in the 19th century
38. ‘The Lincolnshire Poacher’ song is the unofficial county anthem
39. The Lincolnshire Sausage Festival is held every year in October at Lincoln Castle
40. Grimsby Smoked Fish achieved protected status in 2009
41. The Lincolnshire Show began in 1869
42. The Lincoln Christmas Market is now one of the largest festive markets in the country and attracts visitors from all over the world.
43. The Belchford Downhill Challenge is a soapbox race that is held every two years
44. The county flower is the Common Dog-violet
45. The Lincoln Imp is a carving on the Lincoln Cathedral, said to have been a devil that was turned to stone by an angel
46. The current Lincolnshire flag was officially revealed in 2005 following a campaign by BBC Radio Lincolnshire
47. Lincolnshire Day is held on October 1st every year
48. Harry Potter actor Jim Broadbent is from Lincolnshire
49. Lincoln Castle is a Norman castle constructed in the late 11th century by William the Conqueror
50. Lincoln Cathedral was the tallest building in the world for 238 years (1311–1549)

Interested in finding out some more slightly quirky things about Lincolnshire? The A-Z of Curious Lincolnshire is a good place to start…