King’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 moreLynn Man Buys An Alibi
There were so many people willing to commit perjury in support of Franklyn that the trial took seven hours. Thomas Franklyn – King’s Lynn Smuggler […]
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 moreHerbert de Losinga
The Life and Legacy of Bishop Herbert de Losinga: Architect of Ecclesiastical Power in Norman England Introduction Herbert de Losinga (1050-1119), is an important figure […]
Read moreHorses, Pubs, and King’s Lynn Races
Thousands attend King’s Lynn Races in the mud. The Welcome Diversion In 1850 the King’s Lynn newspaper claimed that 20,000 – 30,000 thousand got there, […]
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: The Fight Over Services Can you imagine a religious building not being allowed to conduct certain religious services? That’s what happened to […]
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 Bench, And A Place In The 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 series of dynastic civil wars fought for the English throne (1455-1487) Why were they called The Wars of the Roses? The civil wars were […]
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: Near The End At the age of 87, only three months before his death, a reluctant revolutionary made the difficult journey through 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 In September 1835, two years before she was to become queen, a fifteen year old princess came to King’s Lynn. Up […]
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 meter 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 […]
Read moreKing’s Killers in King’s Lynn
Not many people know that for several years King’s Lynn produced two regicides (killers of a king). The Civil War: Promotion And Pain When the […]
Read moreJohn Capgrave
John Capgrave – the Lynn historian, hagiographer, theologian, and church leader who saw the princess with his own eyes. In 1406 the twelve year-old Princess […]
Read moreLynn Man Gets Away With Two Murders
Even the father-in-law of the murdered Customs Officer was persuaded to provide Kemball with a spurious alibi for the time the murders were committed. William […]
Read moreLynn Mayor Cheats Customs For Years
Francis Shaxton – King’s Lynn Smuggler Francis Shaxton was a respected alderman in the respectable prosperous town of King’s Lynn. But when he was first […]
Read moreCastle Rising: National Figures
Castle Rising is a small village five miles to the northeast of King’s Lynn, and the Castle today is a ruin. Yet, despite the village’s […]
Read moreThe Hanging and the Two Survivors
The Tragedy In 1808 William Wildblood entered St Margaret’s Church in King’s Lynn, climbed the stairs to the belfry, and using some of the available […]
Read moreThe Jews of King’s Lynn
Prior to 1066, no Jews were recorded as living in the England. However, William the Conqueror wanted government dues to be paid in coin rather […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Compass
The Compass Plaques on Purfleet Quay, King’s Lynn. Explorers and Adventurers. On the Purfleet Quay there is a compass rose with plaques commemorating eight significant […]
Read moreLynn Lost A Chantry
The purification offset scheme that failed The Concept Of Offsetting We are familiar today with the concept of offsetting. The word appears usually in the […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Contradictory Window
St Margaret’s Church, King’s Lynn (since 2011 designated The Minster) has a very imposing west window above the main entrance. The church was originally built […]
Read moreThrough Lynn to Walsingham
The second most popular place to visit in England between about 1200 and 1537 During the Middle Ages the shrine at Walsingham was the second […]
Read moreMargery Kempe’s Horses and Cries
”His death to me is as if he had died this same day …” Margery Kempe’s Business Failures In Lynn After the failure of one […]
Read moreHostage Taking in Lynn
The French Are Coming Ironically, although King John had proved himself very capable of hostage taking and demanding ransom, it was not King John who […]
Read moreSt James’: The Clock That Killed
When it happened, people were not surprised that it happened, but rather that it hadn’t happened earlier. Unfortunately for Mr Andrews it happened. In 1854 […]
Read moreLynn Priest Makes National History
One-time Lynn priest at St Margaret’s, William Sawtry, was the first person in England to be officially burned alive for heresy. He was executed at […]
Read moreThe Road to the 1688 Revolution: James, Duke of York
Summary of main events and background factors up to the death of Charles II in 1685 The 1688 Revolution marked an important milestone in the […]
Read moreThe Custom House That Originally Wasn’t
The Original Purpose The Custom House in King’s Lynn is one of the town’s most iconic buildings. However, few people know that it was not […]
Read moreLynn MP’s Netflix Conversation
Introduction Unfortunately, we are not able to be a fly on the wall when we might want to be. And there are many, many occasions […]
Read moreSome King Street Secrets
The Crossroads, The House, The Lost Lepers, and the Ambassador The respectable present-day residents of King Street in King’s Lynn (now mainly solicitors, accountants, and […]
Read moreThe House, The Bank, And The Arctic Ice
The building that housed two men who become famous, but for very different reasons. The House Bank House on King’s Staithe Square is a Grade […]
Read moreMansion in Queen Street, King’s Lynn
The Lynn Mansion That Was Briefly A Prison Clifton House is an exceptionally fine early eighteenth century house that in its history has briefly served […]
Read moreExecutions in King’s Lynn
Getting Your Message Across in Dramatic Ways In the days before radio, television, and social media, how did you get your messages across? You couldn’t […]
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