Back in the late 13th century, Bishop Sutton had this place founded as a college of priests. These priests would step in and lead services in the Cathedral when the Prebendaries were off doing...well, who knows what? Maybe they were at the local pub enjoying a pint!
Now, let me tell you, the Vicars' Choral of Lincoln is one of the eight colleges of its kind in all of England. And you know what? It's also one of the oldest and best preserved. Talk about bragging rights!
Most of the building has survived over the years, apart from the hall and the chapel. The hall, the kitchen, and some chambers were all finished by 1305. And by 1328, they even admitted some lay brothers and built more houses for them. That's what I call expansion!
During the English Civil War, these poor buildings took quite a beating. But fear not, my friends, because afterwards, they were transformed into four cozy houses. Talk about a renovation project!
Now, let me paint you a picture. Imagine four two-story ranges surrounding a spacious sloping courtyard. The entrance range facing the cathedral sports an entrance gateway from the 14th century. You'll even spot the arms of Bishop Gravesend above the entrance arch. How fancy!
The northern block on the left side has a near-central 14th-century doorway, complete with a hood mould and mask stops. To the left of that, you'll find a four-centred arched window with another hood mould and a small pointed arched casement window. And we're just getting started!
The southern range steals the show with its central flat-headed doorway, complete with a keystone and a shield above it. Talk about making an entrance! To the right, you'll spot a flat-headed window with three pointed arched lights, as well as a moulded doorway with some 19th-century hood moulds. Beyond that, there's a single gabled buttress.
When you raise your gaze, you'll notice a large gabled dormer window to the left, accompanied by two smaller dormer windows to the right. And to add a bit of flair, there's a central canted wooden oriel window on a shaped bracket. Are you getting all this? I hope you're taking notes!
If we turn around, we'll see four chimneystacks made of brick and stone, along with a charming garderobe tower. Now, don't worry, a garderobe isn't a fancy robe for the garden. It's actually an old-school term for a medieval toilet. Ah, the wonders of history!
Inside, you'll find several intact garderobes (you know, the medieval toilets) and a medieval ceiling with transverse chamfered beams on double corbels. Trust me, it's all very impressive.
So, there you have it - the hilarious journey through Vicars' Court. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed telling it. Now, let's move on to our next stop!
