Exchequer Gate

Located at the cathedral end of Castle Hill, this is where tenants who rented property from the church came to pay their rents. A chequered cloth was used to aide the counting of the rent monies, and it is from the alternating black and white pattern of the cloth that we get the word ‘Exchequer’. The gate was built in the 14th century, and probably acted as the main, ceremonial access point to the Cathedral close.

To call this lovely building a ‘gate’ does not convey a sense of how grand the structure really is. There are actually three gates, or passages through Exchequer Gate to the cathedral precinct; two smaller postern gates flank a pointed central arch, vaulted with brick. Octagonal turrets flank the central arch, and the whole structure is topped with battlements.

Above the arches are two further floors of rooms, which were at one time let as dwellings. The origin of the building is uncertain, but tradition holds that it was constructed during the reign of Edward I.

Exchequer Gate

12 Comments CherryPie on Apr 15th 2015

12 Responses to “Exchequer Gate”

  1. lisl says:

    I have only been to Lincolnn once and that many years ago – I am now wishing it a little closer, as I would dearly love to visit

  2. Alan says:

    It’s not somewhere I’ve ever visited. It;s a shame that Lincoln seems to be off the beaten track on my trips elsewhere as I would very much like to see it for myself. It looks beautiful.

  3. Amfortas says:

    Beautiful. Not a hope of getting planning permission for it today.

  4. Wow, truly impressive!
    Reminded me so much of Peterborough.
    Market square, gate, then the Cathedral.
    Similar setting different scales. ;)

  5. J_on_tour says:

    I have to say, you have some great night shots over this series of posts. I found it a magnificent place to wander with the camera at night. My only gripe from a photographers point of view was that they built the Exchequer Gate too close to the Cathedral.