Postern Gate, Greestone Stairs, Lincoln This postern, or back gate, is one of the earliest gates to the Cathedral Close. It is remember as the point where, in the 1720's, a large crowd surged through it to protest at plans to remove the Cathedral spires. The three towers of the Cathedral were originally surmounted with tall spires of timber, coated with lead. The central spire had been blown down in a gale nearly two hundred years earlier and it was decided by the cathedral body to remove those on the west towers, the excuse being that they had fallen into disrepair. When the citizens in the town below saw the workmen commencing to remove the spires cries of indignation were raised and towards evening a crowd of 500 men assembled to prevent the work going ahead. The main gates of the minster yard were secured against them, but the small postern on the south side was apparently forgotten. To this the crowd turned their attention rushing up Greestone Stairs they battered down the gate and entered the close. They were sucessful in that the spires remained for another 80 years finally being removed in 1807. Footnote - The name Greestone derives from the Old English 'greesen' or steps. These steps (or stairs), in use from the 12th century, were an important route from the medieval suburbs of Butwerk in the lower city to Eastgate in the uphill area of Lincoln ((both outside the city walls) .

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