Standing beside Jews House on The Strait, Jews Court was built later than its neigbour, being constructed primarily in the 17th and 18th centuries. Its name probably comes from a synagogue which once stood near the site. An alternative theory is that the Court was itself a synagogue, with its roots in the 12th century.
Jews Court is now home to the Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology. Jews played a prominent role in early medieval Lincoln. Many acted as moneylenders, a profession forbidden to Christians. However, a combination of religious zealotry and the chance for borrowers to escape repayment of loans led to the Jews being expelled from the realm in 1290.
