The Jew's House is probably the best known 12thc. house in England. The Strait and Steep Hill form a single street in Lincoln running N as an an extension of the High Street towards the Cathedral quarter. Thus the Jew's House at 15 The Strait is also sometimes known as 1 Steep Hill and it should not be confused with Aaron the Jew's House, an alternative name sometimes given to the so-called Norman House situated at 46-47 Steep Hill, further N on the same street. The Jew's House is a Grade I listed house, originally with a first floor hall and shops below, now a restaurant, dating from the later 12thc. and altered in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is of dressed limestone and brick, with a pantile roof and two 18th century brick gable stacks. The main interest is in the E facade to the street, which is of 4 bays: on the ground floor the 2 S bays comprise a 19thc doorway flanked by 2 windows, then the main 12thc doorway set under a chimney breast with a shallow stack rising above it. Finally a single shop window with its doorway to the S. The upper storey has 2 12thc. windows in the N and S bays with a later window in the 2nd bay and the chimney stack in the 3rd. There are also 2 12thc stringcourses, one between the storeys and the other at the level odf the upper window arch springings.
