On Sunday morning we drove once again up to Lincoln Castle. This time, it was to have a look at an event held in the castle grounds called ‘The Lincoln Barons’ Reunion’. The photo of the Baron above is the ‘Baron of the Crystal Hues’. (Unfortunately, my husband’s shadow is hiding his name!)
This event, held from Thursday, September 24th until Tuesday, October 1st, is a chance for people to see all 25 Barons together before they’re auctioned on the evening of October 1st. The money raised will go to the national charity, The Trussell Trust – who organised the construction and displaying of the Barons in the city, along with Lincoln BIG, a business improvement group.
The Baron’s Trail was devised by ‘Wild in Art’ – an organisation that aims to make creativity and enjoyment of art accessible to people by working with artists, communities and schools and producing high profile and popular events. Individual artists from all over the country created the colourful barons, which have been displayed in locations around Central Lincoln throughout the summer. This one, the ‘Anything Goes Baron’ was standing on the bridge over the River Witham along the High Street:
I wrote about the reason for ‘The Barons’ Trail’ in an earlier post but, in a nutshell, it was part of the city’s celebrations to mark 800 years since King John signed the Magna Carta (Great Charter) at Runneymede. One of the original copies of the Treaty is housed in Lincoln Castle, so the city was justified in hosting so many celebratory events.
The Barons who ordered John to sign the Treaty are represented in these life-sized, smile-inducing models we are now saying ‘Goodbye’ to. Last week, they were gathered up from their different sites and I’ve no doubt that the area will look quite dull without them. They’ve been a big attraction for locals and tourists alike, the characterful barons and the ‘Trail’ proving to be one of the highlights of the Magna Carta anniversary celebrations nationwide. Children in particular found it great fun to find the code letter on each one in order to claim the promised bag of gold coins (gold paper-covered, chocolate ones, of course).
There were a lot of people already in the castle grounds when we arrived just after 10 am – the opening time. Consequently, it was difficult for photo-taking. We’d hoped to be able to get a few good shots of many of the Barons all together, but that wasn’t at all easy. Firstly, the barons were placed further apart than shown on the advertising blurb, and secondly, people were standing close to individual Barons. That’s understandable, so we just went with the flow and got some ‘not-so-good’ photos. Here’s a few of them:
A mini ‘Paint Your Own Baron’ can be bought at The Lincoln Visitor Information Centre (shown below in the wonderful old building located on Castle Hill, between the castle and the cathedral) and a competition to win a free mini model of a Baron is also up and running. And finally, every shop in the city centre will be given their own mini Baron to paint and decorate in time for the Christmas season. By doing so, they will be creating a Christmas Baron’s Trail. These mini characters, unlike their bigger brothers, will be harder to find. Many will be ‘ hiding’ amongst other items displayed in the windows of shops and businesses.
I’ll probably do an update on the mini barons around Christmas. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find and photograph some of them in their hiding places. Until then, I’ve got a few more posts on Malta and other places we’ve visited this year to keep me going.
Millie Thom 
Wow this is so cool! I love the history of the Barons as well as all of the fun stuff like the mini Barons and the contest to win one and the shops having one! This was a fun history lesson! Thanks teacher Millie!
I’m smiling at the title you’ve given me, Lynn. I suppose it’s a case of ‘once a teacher, always a teacher.’ I’m glad you liked the post. The Barons have been good for Lincoln, which is only a small city, as cities in the UK go. 🙂
yes!! I love it!
Fascinating stuff Millie! There are so many weird and wonderful stories to discover in Britain. 😊 x
That’s very true. As you know, we love our history here, and take every opportunity to have a bit of pomp and ceremony – or just a bit of fun. The Barons have certainly been fun. 🙂
What a colourful crowd! I hope they didn’t dress like that going into battle 🙂
Well, they would probably have won the battles while John’s men were doubled up laughing. Thanks for that, Ali. 🙂
Love those barons. Will you be bidding for one?
I don’t think so. I’m not sure we’d have anywhere to ‘show it off’. 🙂
This does sound like great fun! I adore organizations that support and emphasize the arts and especially involve school children. Art makes people happy and helps inspire young people to achieve great things…in my opinion 🙂
You’re absolutely right. Art has a great “feel good factor” about it, especially when it’s bright and colourful. Thanks, LT.
Very different but very interesting! I am not used to the very older history, more the SA history that does not date so far back. These Barons are very colorful too 😀
Thanks Scrapydo. We’re steeped in history here. I could write about something different every day and still barely scratch the surface. I should think the history of SA is fascinating – and very turbulent. The Barons have been a lot of fun all summer. 🙂
Lovely, wish I could get one.
I take it you don’t mean one of the life-sized ones . . . or perhaps you do? You’d have to get up here quick for the auction on Wednesday for that. You could always have a ‘mini’ baron though. They cost £9.99 – but you’d have to paint him yourself! Hee hee 🙂
LOL! the life size one’s would be lovely but am afraid I won’t be able to come up there.
I could always post you a mini one, if you like.:)
Oh! Thank you so much Millie, but I’ll have to pass this time. I really appreciate the offer though.
That’s OK. 🙂 I just thought you’d like to have a go at painting one.
Thank you so much Millie.:-)
Wonderfully interesting history and pictures. “Paint your own Baron”: love it.
Thank you, Jack. Sorry for the late response to comments, but I had a killer of a headache all yesterday – probably from spending too many hours staring at a computer screen. I hardly looked at my blog all day. Thank you for liking the Barons. If you’d like a ‘Mini Baron’ I’d be happy to send you one! 😀
Thank you for the most generous offer of a ‘mini baron’ but I think I will have to be satisfied with the ‘virtual baron’ for the time being. Hope your headache has subsided. I’m so far behind on posts and emails, not sure I’ll ever catch up.
It seems to be the story of our lives, Jack. Time doesn’t seem to be on our side, does it? I’m behind with EVERYTHING! Perhaps it’s the thought of that that’s giving me so many headaches. Born worrier, that’s me. Feel free to email me any time – if you have the time, that is. 😀
What a wonderfully artistic way to celebrate the Magna Carta! Love the colourful Barons. I only wish The People’s Baron had a more colourful face and hands. His apron is great. 🙂
Thank you, Irina. I agree about the face – but all the Barons have the same face, just painted differently. Nick and I were only saying when we were photographing them that the facial expression is so miserable. The mouth is down-turned into a scowl, so I suppose it would be difficult to make them look happy.
Yes, I suppose so. Still, they are wonderful. 🙂
I imagine the designer of the basic baron figures wanted to make them look severe – perhaps miserable. They weren’t too happy with King John’s antics, after all. Smiley Barons might have looked better to us, but would probably not have suited their mood. 🙂
Those Barons lining up one by one is just really cute. The history of it is fascinating and I always love to read it. I can’t wait to see mini Barons around Christmas time! 😉
Well, I’ll certainly post about them if I can find them! They’re supposed to be quite well hidden in the shops, so my powers of observation will have to be well honed for then. 🙂
Good to hear that! I’m sure a lot of us would love to see it. They are one of the cutest!!! ❤