The Woman of the Bedchamber in King’s Lynn
Ruth Lady Fermoy: A Life of Royal Service Historically, the role of a Woman of the Queen’s Bedchamber was one of extraordinary intimacy. These attendants were expected […]
Read moreLynn History Podcasts
Listen to the short podcasts based on some of the written posts. Herbert de Losinga and Margaret of Antioch (The Sinner and The Dragon) 9 […]
Read moreSir Benjamin Keene
King’s Lynn man goes to Spain and helps save thousands of lives Sir Benjamin Keene 1697 – 1757 Introduction At various stages in his life […]
Read moreA Gentleman of Vision: Henry Bell and the Shaping of 17th-Century King’s Lynn
Henry Bell (1647–1711) was one of King’s Lynn’s more remarkable and versatile figures: a talented architect, a twice-elected mayor, a merchant, and a man with artistic […]
Read moreA Political Revolution in Tudor Lynn
A Political Revolution in Tudor Lynn: The Rise of the Merchant Class and the Decline of Episcopal Power The story of King’s Lynn in the […]
Read moreFighting The Spanish From King’s Lynn
In 1588, England stood on the edge of crisis. The Spanish Armada – a fleet of over 130 ships – was on its way, aiming […]
Read moreSir Hamon L’Estrange: The Hunstanton Royalist Who Shaped The Fate Of King’s Lynn
Sir Hamon L’Estrange: Background and Family Sir Hamon L’Estrange (1583–1654) was the head of the L’Estrange family, one of Norfolk’s oldest gentry lineages, with deep […]
Read moreLynn Before 1066: A Re-evaluation
The Simple Story Lynn is situated on an estuarine lake. The name probably comes from the Celtic word “lyn” meaning pool reflecting its proximity to […]
Read moreCharles Burney: The Scholar Who Learned To Like King’s Lynn
I Greatly Dislike This Place (King’s Lynn) After only a few days living in King’s Lynn, a young man wrote to his wife complaining that […]
Read moreThe Lover From Norfolk And The 5 Women Left Behind
Listen to a Podcast on this material. Lord Horatio Nelson was born on 29 September 1758 in Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, England (approximately 25 miles north-east of King’s Lynn). […]
Read moreHarriet Fox: Saved By The False Hair In King’s Lynn
Saved by the False Hair: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Survival in King’s Lynn Victorian England, often romanticized for its elegance and propriety, […]
Read moreThe Bishop of Norwich, the Sheep, and the Unholy War
The Fighting Bishop: Henry Despenser’s 1383 Crusade A Holy War with Unholy Motives? In 1383, an English bishop led an army across the Channel with […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Medieval Street Names
It is noticeable that many of Lynn’s medieval street names were associated with the textile industry, reflecting its major contribution to the wealth of the […]
Read moreThe Drowning of Lizzie Green in King’s Lynn
A Tragic Tale of Love, Death, and Victorian Justice A chilling drama unfolded on a cold January night in 1889 in King’s Lynn, Norfolk. This […]
Read moreThe Mesmerising Mr Clarke from King’s Lynn
The Mesmerising Tale of Joe Clarke: From King’s Lynn to the Liverpool Gallows Joe Clarke’s story is a captivating tale of deception, hypnotism, and ultimately, […]
Read moreRoger From Hunstanton And His Battles For The Kings
The secret meeting with the seaman at the Pastons’ in Appleton was nearly fatal for Roger from Hunstanton. The seaman (perhaps sensibly) decided that the […]
Read more1953 King’s Lynn Flood – The Bungalow and the Steam Train
The Bungalow and the Steam Train to King’s Lynn Train drivers are unfortunately used to seeing hazards on the line – timber, random objects thrown […]
Read moreThe Tragic Tale of Mary Taylor from King’s Lynn
The Woman Who Was Burned Alive For Unlocking A Door Listen to a Podcast based on this story. In the bustling streets of King’s Lynn in 1730, […]
Read moreSpells, Suspicion, and Sentences: English Witchcraft Laws
Introduction There may have been others, but according to the records we have, eight women were executed in King’s Lynn for being a witch. 1583 […]
Read moreHanging in Chains
Hanging in Chains (Gibbeting): Unravelling the Dark Legacy of Britain’s Spectacular Justice System From 1751 to 1834, Britain employed one of the most macabre punishments […]
Read moreCopper Shortage In King’s Lynn
King’s Lynn Farthing, 1668: A Token of Resilience in a Time of Need When the copper runs out, local traders find a creative solution. In […]
Read moreLynn Man’s Body Covered In Pitch
Have you ever heard the tale of Joseph Beeton, the dandy highwayman? His story is a mix of youthful charm, crime, and tragedy that captivated […]
Read moreMargaret and the Dragons of Lynn
Margaret of Antioch: A Closer Look at a Legendary Christian Martyr Who Left Her Mark on King’s Lynn Margaret of Antioch: Introduction Margaret of Antioch, […]
Read moreCapturing the King: the First Battle of Lincoln
The First Battle of Lincoln (February 2, 1141) The First Battle of Lincoln, fought on February 2, 1141, was a critical event during the period […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Special Windmill
Ok. Technically it is a post mill. Medieval post mills were a remarkable feat of engineering and played a crucial role in the agricultural landscape […]
Read moreHerbert de Losinga
The Life and Legacy of Bishop Herbert de Losinga: Architect of Ecclesiastical Power in Norman England Herbert de Losinga: Introduction Herbert de Losinga (1050-1119), is […]
Read moreA Lot of Digging: Eau Brink Cut
In June 1818 it was agreed that the contractors, Joliffe and Banks, would be paid to evacuate 25,000 floors of earth at 13 shillings and […]
Read moreHorses, Pubs, and King’s Lynn Races
Thousands attend King’s Lynn Races in the mud. King’s Lynn Races: The Welcome Diversion In 1850 the King’s Lynn newspaper claimed that 20,000 – 30,000 […]
Read moreThe Walks, King’s Lynn: Pilgrims, Promenade, and Parkour
The Walks is an historic urban park located in the heart of King’s Lynn, Norfolk. It is the only surviving 18th-century town walk in Norfolk. […]
Read moreThe Perpetual Prison of Lynn’s White Martyrs
Some flee the world and shut themselves within walls, Enclose themselves in stone, and speak but little, To avoid those sins that human weakness is […]
Read moreCastle Rising Castle
Fortress and hotel for royalty near King’s Lynn Castle Rising Castle: The Beginning – Puffed Up And Looking Down Apparently William d’Aubigny II wasn’t popular […]
Read moreThree Women And A Castle
In 1138 William D’Aubigny II removed the wooden fort built by his father and started to construct the impressive Norman castle at Rising, the remains […]
Read moreThe Fight And The King’s Lynn Treasure: St Nicholas’
Saint Nicholas Chapel, King’s Lynn: The Fight Over Services Can you imagine a religious building not being allowed to conduct certain religious services? That’s what […]
Read moreYes, Minster
Many of the King’s Lynn Guides (who take people on walks around Historic Lynn) will tell you that people are often interested in finding out […]
Read moreFanny, The King’s Lynn Bench, And A Place In The London Corner
In 1778, at the age of 26, a woman from King’s Lynn published her first novel, “Evelina”. It was an immediate success, captivating readers with […]
Read moreThe Man, The Galloper, And The Ice Cream Cone
Frederick Savage was a true visionary of his time, whose innovative spirit and engineering prowess transformed the landscape of fairground entertainment in 19th century England. […]
Read moreThe Wars of the Roses: A Summary
A summary, and relevance to King’s Lynn A series of dynastic civil wars fought for the English throne (1455-1487) Why were they called The Wars […]
Read moreDistant Ideas In Lynn Part Two: Thomas Thoresby
Any therapist worth their salt will tell you that what we believe will largely influence what we do. If you want to understand actions, talk […]
Read moreDistant Ideas In Lynn Part One: William Sawtry
Any therapist worth their salt will tell you that what we believe will largely influence what we do. If you want to understand actions, talk […]
Read moreJohn Brandon – Was he, or wasn’t he?
Did the King choose a Lynn pirate to accompany his daughter across the North Sea? I’ve heard it argued that John Brandon (a renowned Lynn […]
Read morePirates Threaten Lynn
People listening to the news in modern times about pirate raids on vessels may be shocked to learn that at various times in the past, […]
Read moreThe Wicked Farmer And Other Errors
A little knowledge can often be a dangerous thing. In telling stories historians can emphasise parts that seem important to them, or miss bits out […]
Read moreJohn Wesley: Reluctant Revolutionary Enriches Lynn
John Wesley: Travels to King’s Lynn Near The End At the age of 87, only three months before his death, a reluctant revolutionary made the […]
Read moreThomas Of Lynn
Thomas Thoresby: The Beginning Thomas Thoresby was born in Lynn Episcopi (Bishop’s Lynn later King’s Lynn) some time in 1450, though the exact date is […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Charters
Charters A royal charter gave a community certain privileges, exemptions, and powers. And these usually related to charging or avoiding taxes and tolls, and to […]
Read moreThe Lynn Man, The Pub, and The Ruptured Spleen
There are many ways of categorising death. There are both natural deaths (from old age, for example) and unnatural deaths (such as murder). And there […]
Read moreSaving the King: the Second Battle of Lincoln
The Battle of Lincoln Fair, 1217 King John’s Death When King John left Bishop’s Lynn (now King’s Lynn) on 11 October 1216, little did he […]
Read moreThe Alleged Witches Of Lynn
Are You A Witch? Let me ask you some personal questions. Do you live in East Anglia? Do you have any moles on your skin […]
Read moreDid the King’s Lynn Sailor Witness Cannibalism?
The Certainty By the time George Vancouver from King’s Lynn left Hawaii in 1779, he had experienced two things that were beyond doubt. First, the […]
Read moreThe Cry, The Murder, Lynn And The Bard
“Oh! my husband, my husband … At which shrill and unexpected outcry, the people about her moov’d to a strange amazement, inquired the reason of […]
Read moreThe Princess, The Folly, And The Train
The Traumatised Royal Princess: Victoria In September 1835, two years before she was to become queen, a fifteen year old princess came to King’s Lynn. […]
Read moreThe Poor Person’s Anglican Church: St John’s
The Silk Man and the Box Many people are familiar with the fact that the British royal family traditionally spend Christmas on their estate at […]
Read moreSouth Gate, King’s Lynn
The South Gate: The Need For A Big Statement At the beginning of the C15th Bishop’s Lynn (what was to become King’s Lynn in 1537) […]
Read moreThe Angels Of King’s Lynn
Angelic beings were important in late medieval life. They are often represented in English parish church art, especially in open timber roofs. You can see […]
Read moreThe Man Who Opened Books In Lynn
On 18 May 1905 a billionaire philanthropist came to King’s Lynn and was given a key to open an impressive new building which he had […]
Read moreSea Salt and Sin – The Beginning of King’s Lynn
There have doubtless been people visiting and living at the southern corner of the Wash throughout human history, but the town of King’s Lynn itself […]
Read moreThe Leaning Tower of Lynn
One Not Four King’s Lynn has a famous leaning tower. And it’s quite safe. The twenty-eight metre tower of the Franciscan (Greyfriars) Friary leans just […]
Read moreSt George’s Guildhall, King’s Lynn
The Buttresses, the Extended Building, the Bard, and the Button Factory The Guildhall of St George in King’s Lynn is a Grade 1 listed building […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn Teacher Hanged
Eugene Aram – possible philandery (sex), definite philology (words), plunder, murder, and the King’s Lynn Grammar School. On 16 August, 1759, Eugene Aram, a former […]
Read moreMade From Whales in King’s Lynn
Most people walking along the quayside in King’s Lynn would be astonished to learn that the town once had a whaling industry. The port, which […]
Read moreThe Red Mount Chapel In King’s Lynn
The Red Mount Chapel in The Walks is one of King’s Lynn’s most iconic buildings. However, despite surviving over five and a quarter centuries it […]
Read moreWhy Is King’s Lynn Called “King’s Lynn”?
If they think about it for a second, people are often puzzled by the name King’s Lynn. Most inhabitants of the town have no idea […]
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