19 to 23 Minster Yard are known as the Number Houses, so-called because they are thought to be the first numbered houses in Lincoln; but why start at 19?
Standing at the north-west corner of Lincoln Cathedral, which they complement. The houses were built in the early to mid 18th century with 19th century modifications and are, as you would expect, Grade II and Grade II* listed.
Over the years many of the houses have been updated but still retain their character. The curve of bay windows and the regularity of the Georgian windows place these houses among the finest in the city.
When house numbering first began, under the Postage Act of 1765, buildings were often numbered in sequence, 1 to x on the left-hand side from a main road, and x+1 (opposite x) to the last number on the other side - a clockwise sequence (Lincoln's High Street retains this numbering sequence). Later buildings on the left would usually be odd numbers and the opposite side would be even.
At first sight, nothing remarkable about this mid-19th century row of terraced houses built for the better-off professional classes, in need of tender loving care and blighted by poorly designed double-glazed windows and the ubiquitous wheelie bin.
These seemingly two double-fronted houses are. in fact, four single-fronted houses. The plaque to the left of the right-hand door shows number 67, and it can be seen from the wheelie bins that the houses are numbered 65 to 71.
This is the artificial stone lintel above the right-hand door:
From this lintel, it can be clearly seen that the houses were previously numbered from 43 to 46. All the houses were unoccupied in the 1861 census, so they must have been newly built, or in the course of being built at that time.
In 1871 number 43 was still unoccupied, but the others were lived in:
- 44 - John Heywood, age 42, a cashier at an engineering works. Under where born: "travelling on the continent", his son, Edward, was born at Heywood, Lancashire.
- 45 - Elizabeth Bullivant, 65, living on her own means, born in Aisthorpe.
- 46 - George Williamson, 48, Manager Steam Engineer, born Gainsborough.
Sometime between 1891 and 1894, the houses were renumbered to the current sequence.
In the case of Monks Road buildings were numbered sequentially on what would be the right, and when the numbering changed number 1 was still on the right. I believe the reason for this is that the first houses were built on the south side of the road as Monks Leys Common was on the north side.
When these four houses were built, behind them would be many of the major engineering works of the City, but in front would be a pleasant view of the countryside leading up the hill. To the left would be the recently opened cattle market with a great view of the Cathedral above it.
Many other roads, including High Street, have been re-numbered.
Monks Road Numbering 1894 - New Numbers
Monks Road Numbering 1894 - Old Numbers
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