Barnwell Priory is located in the centre of Cambridge, and it was once inhabited by Augustine monks between the 12th and 16th centuries. The only remains of it today are this building, the Cellarer's Chequer, and the Church of St. Andrew-the-Less. The priory was originally founded in 1092 near to the castle in Cambridge but moved to this present location in 1112. Barnwell Priory had links with Midsummer Fair, a fair that was held annually and raised money for the monastary. After the dissolution of monastaries, the stones were taken from Barnwell to build other buildings in Cambridge.
This building, the Chequer, was where the person under the abbot (the Cellarer - who was responsible for organisation and daily running of the monastary functions) conducted the business and lived. The building was not open to visit, but it contains a fireplace and stone vaulted ceiling with a column in the middle. The building is Grade II listed.
The success of Barnwell Priory and its Midsummer Fair was probably what had helped the University of Cambridge to become established.
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