Quayside, Trinity Chare

The Quayside plateau has its origin in an episode of land reclamation in the 13th century. By the end of that century the arrangement of streets had been established and to a great extent that arrangement still survives. Buildings have been replaced at intervals on the same sites since the first houses of the 13th century. Presevation of 13th century buildings below ground is exceptionally good, with walls surviving to a height of some 2m. There were no minor streets or chares running off the Quayside before 1376, although the word "Key" is used four times from 1332 to 1366. From Sandhill to Sandgate there were 20 chares which survived until the mid C19. Most were so narrow that two people could not walk abreast. Their date of origin is unknown, earliest reference is C14.