Jewish Buildings

Several of today’s buildings reflect Lincoln’s thriving Medieval Jewish population. On Steep Hill stand two mid-late 12th century stone houses which are traditionally associated with Lincoln's Norman Jewish community.

Norman House

Norman House is one of Lincoln’s oldest buildings. Previously called Aaron the Jew's House, this was popularly believed to be the home of Aaron the Jew, a rich man known to have lived in 12th century Lincoln, where he died in 1186. The house has a fine round-arched doorway, above which is a chimney breast which served the fireplace in the first floor hall.

The Jew's House

Further down the hill, immediately below Jew's Court, is the Jew's House. One of the earliest existing town houses in England, this dates from the mid-twelfth century.

This building originally consisted of a hall at first floor level, above service and storage spaces at ground level. The hall measured 12.19m x 6.1m (40ft x 20ft) and was lit by a pair of Romanesque double-arch windows under ornately sculpted arches. The remains of these windows, and much of the stonework on the upper storey, survive today, as does the house’s elaborately carved doorway and the prominent chimney breast above it. The latter originally rose from two fireplaces, one either side of the door.

The Jew's House was supposedly seized from a Jewish owner when the Jews were expelled in 1290, and has remained in continuous occupation ever since. It is currently in commercial use, part of it being a restaurant.

Jew's Court

Jew's Court is another Norman construction on Steep Hill, immediately above Jew's House. The building, which contains a cabinet marked with Stars of David and currently used as an ark, is often thought to have been used as a synagogue until the expulsion of Jews from England in 1290. In 1992, Jewish services were restarted in the building, the remainder of which currently operates as a bookshop.