Pottergate & Priory Gate in Lincoln

 

Pottergate Arch

Continuing up Lindum Road, having had a good look at the building stones in the boundary wall on Lindum Terrace, I next encountered the Grade I Listed Pottergate Arch. This mid C14 south-east gateway forms the remains of a high wall, which was built to enclose Lincoln Cathedral and the associated properties of the Dean and Chapter.

 

The west elevation of Pottergate Arch

Looking at the front elevation, some of the original Lincoln stone ashlar can still be seen, but it is the restoration in Ancaster stone, with its greyish tones, that dominates the masonry – especially the castellated parapets and other masonry, including lancet windows, to the upper section.

 

The north elevation of Pottergate Arch

The Historic England listing refers to a restoration in 1884, which presumably relates to the opening of the road on its west side, and it is very interesting to see that its current form is very different to that depicted by the artist Peter de Wint, in his painting of 1827.

 

A remnant of the wall to the cathedral close

Before heading up Pottergate, a large section of stone wall to the north-west of Pottergate Lodge caught my eye, which may be a remnant of the wall to the cathedral close. Forming the bulk of the east wall of the adjacent L-shaped brick building, it comprises very large squared blocks of ferruginous limestone, which alternate with much thinner courses of squared rubble masonry.

 

No.2 Pottergate

No.2 Pottergate, with its Lincoln stone frontage, dates to the C16 and was extensively remodelled in the C18, with further raising of the front elevation in the early C19. The latter work can be quite easily distinguished by the thinner courses of masonry, compared to the ashlar that constitutes most of the masonry, and this pattern is also evident in the lowermost courses.

 

No.4 Pottergate

A short distance further up the road, No.4 Pottergate exhibits architectural elements that date back to the C14 and C15, including the coursed rubble masonry to the lower part of the elevation and the infilled arch, which has carved headstops. The oriel window is C16 and various alterations and additions continued from the C17 to the C19.

 

Details of No.4 Pottergate

St. Mary’s School, whose mediaeval fabric is hidden by its C18 frontage, was being scaffolded at the time of my visit. Next door is another extensively remodelled mediaeval house – Graveley Place on Minster Yard – where the blocked early C14 doorway is set in coursed rubble masonry, with a C17 character imposed on the façade by the mullioned windows, which are all restored. 

 

Graveley Place

The adjoining Chancery has C13 origins, with additions through successive centuries to the late C17, with further alterations in the C18 and C19. The gabled brick built Pottergate elevation dates to the late C15, with the canted oriel window and dressings being completely restored with Ancaster stone. 

 

The Chancery

Moving on to the adjoining Choristers' House, built in 1661, the combination of Lincoln stone and red brick again produces a striking visual effect, with the latter being used to raise the steep gables and for the parapet, beneath which a dog toothed pattern is used for decorative effect.

 

The Choristers' House

I have been to several cathedral cities, where the close is full of historic buildings, but I can’t recall seeing a street where so many attractive buildings with different architectural styles are all found next to each other.

 

Priory Gate

At the end of Minster Yard, I finished this leg of my exploration of Lincoln’s historic buildings at Priory Gate, which was built in 1816 with materials reused when the original gateway, 50 metres further to the north, was demolished.

 

A grotesque on Priory Gate