The 800-year-old building hidden down a quiet Cambridgeshire street

Like many parts of the UK, Cambridge is a hodgepodge of history, with medieval buildings rubbing shoulders with their more modern counterparts. One relic of Cambridge's medieval past remains on the corner of a quiet street just off Newmarket Road.

The Cellarer's Chequer is on the site of the former Barnwell Priory, which was an Augustinian priory founded in the 11th century. Most of the priory has not lasted into the 21st century – the surviving parts include the Cellarer's Chequer and parts of Abbey House.

The building that survives on the corner of Beche Road and Priory Road was managed by the Cellarer, who held an important role within the priory. His job was to make sure the priory had all the provisions needed for everyone who lived and worked within it.

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"He would have assistants to help with his duties," according to the Cambridge City Council website. "He needed to have a good head for figures as he would have to work out costings and forward plan, checking weekly expenditure in the kitchens."

It is thought that the Chequer was built near to the kitchen, parlour, and dining hall, where the Cellarer would be able to keep an eye on everything. It was built between 1213 and 1265, which, by Cambridge standards, is not particularly impressive – St Bene't's Church dates back to the 11th century.

Photographs from inside the Chequer show that it is a single room with a vaulted ceiling and bare floors. It may have been used as a store or a barn after the priory was demolished.

The building is now Grade II* listed, so is likely to be preserved for more generations to come. It is owned and looked after by Cambridge City Council.