Cardinal's Hat and Dernstall House, Lincoln

This pair of historic half-timbered buildings stand at the start of The Strait section of Lincoln's Steep Hill. The Cardinal's Hat is a 15th century three story building with a lower story of brick and timber-framed upper two floors.

Like many late medieval and Tudor buildings, the upper floors of the Cardinal's Hat lean out over the lower floor in an attempt to maximize street frontage space. The building is thought to have been named for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (1475-1530), advisor to King Henry VIII. Wolsey acted as Dean, then Bishop of Lincoln.

Dernstall House, though less imposing on the exterior than The Cardinal's Hat, contains masonry dating from the 12th century.