A COUPLE unearthed a mysterious relic which was hidden under their bathroom floor while they were cleaning and uncovered a “grotesque” face.
Tracy Vorster, 40, and her husband Rory were cleaning under the plants in the bathroom of their home near Lincoln Cathedral when they made the bizarre discovery.
Above the toilet was a trap-door styled opening on the ledge in front of the bathroom window.
Rory lifted the houseplant which was resting on top of it out of the way and opened up the trap-door to make the find.
The feature appeared to be shaped like an imp or a Green Man, with a hole below the head.
Rory told The Lincolnite: “I couldn’t believe it. I shouted up to my wife and said ‘I’ve found a thing’.”
Tracy and her husband have lived in their home in Vicars’ Court for nearly two months and rent it from the cathedral.
She told LincolnshireLive: “We were very surprised to find it but not shocked as the house is so old and interesting that it’s kind of expected to find amazing things.
“The walls in the house seem hollow so I can only imagine what they are covering up.”
Tracy took to a local Facebook group to share her find, which led to members of the group speculating as to what the relic was and what it had been used for.
Some thought it could have been a decorative drainage channel.
However, experts have settled the issue.
The heritage team from the City of Lincoln Council have confirmed the relic is recorded in the Survey of Ancient Houses in Lincoln vol II: Houses to the South and West of the Minster.
According to the survey, which was carried out by the Lincoln Civic Trust, the feature is described as an “elaborate drain in the sill of a window” with a “carved grotesque mask” and is thought to date back to the mid to late 14th century.
Lincoln Cathedral was built in the late 11th century, although the Medieval Bishop’s Palace was constructed a century later.
Tracy added that specialists are visiting in the next few days to inspect the relic further.
The couple originally lived on Vicar’s Court but moved to Bracebridge Heath, however, they missed living in Lincoln and then returned.
Tracy said: “I mean, you look at the outside of the house and that is historical enough.
“So to now find something inside is amazing.”
The Gothic cathedral was commissioned by William the Conqueror in the 11th century.
In its long history, Lincoln Cathedral has earned several accolades, including its title as the tallest building in the world.
Lincoln Cathedral took the world-record-breaking title from the Great Pyramid of Giza when a spire was added to the cathedral’s structure in 1311.
The cathedral retained its title for more than 200 years until its spire collapsed in 1548.
Lincoln Cathedral has other claims to fame too, including being used as a filming location for Sir Ridley Scott’s biopic, Napoleon.
In addition to its starring role in a Hollywood blockbuster, Lincoln Cathedral is also home to one of the only four surviving copies of the Magna Carta.
Meanwhile, other attractions include the Lincoln Imp.
According to local legends, the imp was turned to stone by an angel after misbehaving.
Visitors to the cathedral will be able to spot the stone imp in the building’s rafters.
There are other attractions too, including the Medieval Library and Wren Libraries, which house a collection of 15th-century books.
Rory added: “The whole of the house has kind of a hollow walling, so we immediately thought there could be more, in fact we’re almost certain now.
“The previous occupant had been here for over 20 years, so surely they knew.
“But we had absolutely no clue it was there.”
It’s thought their house in Vicar’s Court is more than 700 years old.
The court, situated in Minster Yard, to the south of the cathedral, was founded by a college of priests in the 13th century but was partly demolished in the English Civil War.
The properties that do remain are a Grade I listed building and remain the property of Lincoln Cathedral.
