Jew's House
Encyclopedia
- For the building formerly known as Aaron the Jew's House, see the Norman HouseNorman HouseNorman House on Steep Hill, Lincoln in England is a historic building and an example of Norman domestic arthitecture. The building is at 46-47 Steep Hill and 7 Christs Hospital Terrace...
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The Jew's House is one of the earliest extant town houses in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It lies on Steep Hill
Steep Hill
Steep Hill is a popular tourist street in the historic city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.At the top of the hill is the entrance to Lincoln Cathedral and at the bottom is Well Lane.The Hill consists of independent shops, tea rooms and pubs....
in Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, immediately below Jew's Court
Jew's Court
Jews' Court is the Oldest synagogue in the British Isles. A Norman building on Steep Hill in Lincoln, immediately above Jew's House, it is dated to between 1150 and 1180...
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Dating from the mid-twelfth century, the building originally consisted of a hall at first floor level, measuring approximately 12 by 6 metres, above service and storage spaces at ground level.
Part of the facade survives; the elaborately carved doorway, the remains of two Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
double-arch windows and much of the stonework on the upper storey. A chimney
Chimney
A chimney is a structure for venting hot flue gases or smoke from a boiler, stove, furnace or fireplace to the outside atmosphere. Chimneys are typically vertical, or as near as possible to vertical, to ensure that the gases flow smoothly, drawing air into the combustion in what is known as the...
breast rises over the arch above the front door, serving the fireplace on the upper floor. There were once two columns supporting the arch, but these have gone.
The house has traditionally been associated with the thriving Jewish community in Medieval Lincoln. Anti-Semitic hysteria was stoked up by the case of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln
Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln
Hugh of Lincoln was an English boy, whose death prompted a blood libel with ramifications that reach until today. Hugh is known as Little Saint Hugh to distinguish him from Saint Hugh, otherwise Hugh of Lincoln. The style is often corrupted to Little Sir Hugh...
in 1255, and in 1290, the entire Jewish community was expelled from England; the Jew's House supposedly being seized from a Jewish owner.
The building has remained continuously occupied to the present day and is currently in commercial use, part being a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
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