England Guide
The East Midlands
The Collection
Opening time: Daily 10am–5pm
Price: Free
Address: Danesgate
The Collection occupies two buildings – a striking modern structure built to display the city's extensive collection of archeological artefacts, and a good-looking 1920s edifice, the Usher Gallery, which focuses on fine art. The gallery also holds an eclectic collection of coins, porcelain, watches and clocks. Dating from the seventeenth century, the timepieces were given to the gallery by its benefactor, James Ward Usher, a local jeweller and watchmaker who made a fortune on the back of the Lincoln Imp. First, in the 1880s, he devised the legend and then he sold the little trinkets and novelties to match – with such success that the imp became the city's emblem. His story has a couple of imps hopping around the cathedral, until one of them is turned to stone for trying to talk to the angels carved into the roof of the Angel Choir. His chum made a hasty exit on the back of a witch, but the wind is still supposed to haunt the cathedral awaiting their return.