h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A small influx of visitors in March meant I travelled into Lincoln several times and noticed a discreet notice in the cathedral asking for volunteers. So I have just completed my second afternoon (12-5pm)working in the cathedral shop.
I think it is one of the world's most beautiful buildings and yesterday afternoon we got to hear the organist practising for the BBC broadcast in the evening.
I have rapidly got up to speed with some of the local history, including the earthquake of 1185. When the cathedral was rebuilt after that, lead covered wooden spires were put on top of all three towers. The central tower thus became the tallest building in the world until 1548 when the spire blew down.
As the building is floodlit at night and is on the top of a (very) steep hill it still looks pretty impressive.

I think there was recently a programme on Radio 3 or 4 about Lincoln Cathedral and how it was built. They were talking about Christopher Wren's stocktaking of all church buildings I think, so there were detailed records from the 17th Century. However, even then, no one could really reconstruct how the tower was made so tall.

Very often, when Brits claim "The world's most...", I can usually think of two or three examples to prove them wrong, even from the few countries I've visited. In your case, "one of the world's most beautiful buildings" really Means Something. Maybe one day I'll come and have another look at it.

When I retire, I think I shall have a go at doing guided tours. A friend of mine does it, and they are surely always looking for volunteers, especially if they can speak English. I hope everyone from hootoo comes along for a tour!

oh what an interesting volunteer job.
What are the things that sell best? Do you have something that is really really tasteless that goes like hot-cakes?

Are all people who work in Cathedral shops volunteers? I didn't realise that. Not that I wouldn't anyway, but I'll treat them with particular respect in future. And I'll remember to ask them more questions so that they can use their knowledge. Well done, ladies!

About half in Lincoln and the others are on part-time wages except for the lady in charge, who has been there over 30 years.
Stock is mostly good national trust type stuff with cathedral souvenirs added. Biggest seller volume wise are books and postcards.
The first prize for tat goes to the knitting pattern and wool to make your own Lincoln Imp. I also think the expensive Green Man heads and tapestries of things like the Lady of the Lake are tasteless, but they sell too at a few hundred pounds.

One of the reasons I think the place is so beautiful is that it isn't cluttered up with tombs, so when the chairs aren't out the huge central space looks like it would have 700 years ago and it has been/is being cleaned so that all the different coloured stone can be seen