…Easter Monday
For the second day running breakfast was not being served in the Garden room but in the same room as the previous day. The experience was a lot less chaotic but when my scrambled eggs turned up they were rather overcooked. After breakfast we checked out of the hotel and put our cases in the car before visiting The Medieval Bishops’ palace that is situated next to The Old Palace Hotel.
As we got in the car to leave Lincoln the Cathedral bell struck the hour of 11 O’Clock reminding me that I would miss hearing them sound. We intended to visit a Civil War exhibition in Newark but we arrived to find the museum was not complete and didn’t open until May. So instead we headed off to Kedleston Hall for lunch and a tour of the house. After this we continued on our journey home, stopping at Tesco on the way to pick up something for an evening meal. When I got home I was reminded that I had forgotten to take a picture of the Easter Cross outside the parish church so I grabbed my camera to rectify the situation.
Tags: English Heritage, Kedleston Hall, Lincoln, National Trust, The Easter Cross, The Medieval Bishops' Palace, The Old Palace Hotel, Weekend away
…Easter Day
I was awoken by the sound of crockery crashing to the floor in the corridor outside the room. I dismissed that idea and decided the staff were being noisy tidying up the crockery trolley I had seen on the landing the previous evening. I went back to sleep and the next sound I heard was the 7 O’Clock chime of the Cathedral’s hour bell.
When we arrived for breakfast in the Garden room and found it empty we made our way to reception to ask where breakfast was being served and we were told it was being served on the first floor just around the corner from our room. The breakfast room was rather chaotic because one member of staff had phoned in sick. We sat down at a table and found that the breakfast buffet was far from complete. One of the missing items was orange juice so Mr C asked the waiter for some. The waiter promptly brought a fresh supply only for Mr C to find there were no glasses to put it in! Whilst chatting to one of the breakfast staff I found out the reason for the loud early morning crash of crockery. When they tried to move the trolley loaded with crockery in order to lay the breakfast tables, the leg fell off and the pots fell to the floor…
We managed to get through breakfast in plenty of time to attend the Easter Morning ‘Sung Eucharist’ service in the Cathedral and as we left our chaotic breakfast experience, the sound of the Cathedral bells could be heard, heralding the Easter Morning service. Peace was restored.
The service was lovely and at times quite moving. At the end of the service, as the procession walked up the central isle we noticed that all the young choristers were holding a chocolate Easter bunny and as we turned to leave the Cathedral we were struck by the sight of both front doors of the Cathedral opened wide. As I left I shook hands with the Bishop and walked out into brilliant sunshine which was a welcome contrast to the cloudy weather of the past couple of days.
We made our way to Doddington Hall and Gardens for lunch. Because it was a bank holiday weekend, the cafe was full so we picked up lunch from the farm shop and ate outdoors in a picnic area. After lunch we did a tour of the grounds and hall and also the nearby St Peter’s Church, all of which was very nice.
On returning to the hotel we found that the faulty light bulbs that we had reported in the morning had still not been fixed! After the case of the missing towels the previous day I was quite adamant that they would be fixed so I reported them again before we left for a brief walk in the Cathedral quarter, enjoying seeing the Cathedral in the sunshine. When we returned to the hotel to freshen up before dinner the bulbs had been replaced 
We did not make the best choice of venue for an evening meal but that was rectified by a nightcap in the Wig & Mitre
Tags: Doddington Hall & Gardens, Easter, Eucharist, Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral, Weekend away
…Easter Eve
Before the alarm went off I awoke to the feeling of a warm presence holding my hands and squeezing them… Soon afterwards the pleasant sound of the Cathedral bells resumed chiming the hours and quarters after being silent overnight.
Breakfast was in the Garden room, although we didn’t see much of the garden due to our table being too far away from the window. The breakfast menu was extensive and all hot food was cooked to order. After breakfast, we made our way to the castle area which is near the Cathedral. The castle has just opened a new purpose built display for its copy of the Magna Carta and this is where we headed first. Displayed with the Magna Carta is the only known copy of the Charter of the Forest. Issued by Henry III, this new document extended several clauses of the Magna Carta and specified greater freedoms in relation to forest laws and the royal hunting forests.
After viewing the Magna Carta, we visited the Old Prison and the prison chapel which are in the grounds of Lincoln Castle. Some of the cells told tales and anecdotes of former prisioners. After the confined conditions of the former prison we ascended to the recently restored castle wall walk to take in the views over Lincoln.
We decided to return to the more peaceful Cathedral. We walked around the outside of the Cathedral and got an impression of it from all angles before taking lunch in the Cathedral refectory. Inside the Cathedral, we took time to explore and to visit the Cathedral shop. Afterwards we walked down the Steep Hill to visit the art gallery and Museum of Archaeology. Both places were interesting and well worth the visit.
Rather than retrace our steps up Steep Hill we wandered through Temple Gardens making our way back to our hotel in order to relax before dining in The Old Bakery restaurant. After dinner and because we enjoyed it the previous night, we returned to the Wig & Mitre for a nightcap before retiring to the hotel for the evening.
Tags: Lincoln, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Temple Gardens, The Old Palace Hotel, Wall Walk, Weekend away
…Good Friday
We set off on our journey on time and the traffic was mostly kind to us. As usual when it was time for lunch there was a dearth of places to stop off for lunch. We eventually came across a farm shop just outside Lincoln where they had a nice selection of sandwiches. After lunch we made our way into Lincoln and headed for our hotel (The Old Palace). There was a last minute bit of confusion and no sign post highlighting the whereabouts of the hotel. We eventually found the hotel tucked away through an archway. Luckily the room had just become available when we arrived. This meant we were able to check in and take our cases up to the luxurious room with window seats and a view of Lincoln Cathedral.
As we were leaving the hotel in order to explore Lincoln a member of the hotel staff said hello to us as we were trying to find the exit. He told us about the garden room where breakfast is served and also about St Hugh’s Chapel which is attached to the hotel. The chapel was built in the Victorian era as a private place of worship for the Bishop of Lincoln. The hotel itself was formerly Bishops palace and part of the building is still in use (as offices) by the current Bishop.
As we set off the weather took a turn for the worse and it started to drizzle with rain which lasted for the rest of the day. This had the effect of making the stone on the Cathedral look rather drab and grey and the turrets were partially hidden in mist. We walked around the castle area and browsed in a couple of bookshops before visiting a tea shop for afternoon tea. I was tempted to have a slice of Lemon Easter Cake which was topped with chocolate mini eggs. The waitress service was a bit chaotic but the cake was delicious Afterwards we made our way back towards the hotel to freshen up before dinner. Along the way we stopped off to visit the Cathedral in between the Good Friday services. On entering the Cathedral I was struck by its immense size!
We dined in The White Hart Hotel and by the time we had finished our meal it had stopped raining so I didn’t need my umbrella as we walked to a nearby pub for a nightcap before returning to the hotel for the evening.
Tags: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral, St Hugh's Chapel, The Old Palace Hotel, The White Hart Hotel, Weekend away
As part of the Easter celebrations my local parish church erects a wooden cross and adorns it with flowers. This is done by the congregation just before the Easter morning service. I think it is a lovely idea and little children bring flowers to place on the Easter Cross. The Church ‘Flower Ladies’ help to adorn the cross with the flowers.
The top photo was taken by me on Easter Monday after I had returned home from my weekend in Lincoln. Unfortunately it was in shadow by the time I got there. The photo below (not taken by me) shows my Mum and and a friend of hers after they (along with two other helpers) had finished placing the flowers on the cross. I think the cross looks particularly beautiful this year and it seems I am not the only one. As I was taking photographs a lady walked past and said to me “Isn’t that the most beautiful thing you have seen all day?”
Photo from All Saints Wellington Facebook page.
Tags: All Saints Church, Easter Cross, Flowers, Mum, Wellington
I have just returned from a weekend away. This was the wonderful view that I could see from the window seat in my hotel room.
When I have gathered my thoughts, I will be posting more about my weekend away
Tags: Lincoln, Lincoln Cathedral, Medieval Bishops' Palace, Weekend away
Love seeks no cause beyond itself and no fruit; it is its own fruit, its own enjoyment. I love because I love; I love in order that I may love.
Saint Bernard
Tags: Cherie's Place, Cherie's Place Thought, From me to you with love :-), Heart, Love
