Chronological Timeline of King’s Lynn 1100 Years of King’s Lynn History Before 1100 – Lynn’s Saxon Beginnings c. 9th–11th centuries: A small coastal community forms […]
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The Lost Friaries of Lynn: Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and More
In the later Middle Ages, Lynn was home to several friaries. The Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, Austin Friars, and for a time even the lesser-known Friars […]
Read moreKing’s Lynn’s Town Hall Complex
The buildings where a guild and governance converge. The large building at the centre was originally the Guildhall of the Holy and Undivided Trinity. But […]
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 the strong rope attached […]
Read moreLynn Lost A Chantry
The purification offset scheme that failed In the heart of medieval King’s Lynn, chantries once shaped the town’s religious and social life – until they […]
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 moreSt James’: The Clock That Killed
It was the clock on the St James’ Workhouse, given by Thomas Tue of King’s Lynn almost 200 years earlier, that was to inadvertently kill […]
Read moreThe Custom House That Originally Wasn’t
The Original Purpose Wasn’t A Custom House The Custom House in King’s Lynn is one of the town’s most iconic buildings. However, few people know […]
Read moreSome King Street Secrets
Can you guess what you might find if you do a bit of digging into the history of King Street in King’s Lynn? The Crossroads, […]
Read moreThe House, The Bank, And The Arctic Ice
Who were the two men who lived in Bank House, King’s Lynn? And what were their very different achievements? The House Bank House on King’s […]
Read moreGeorge Vancouver: The Overshadowed Achiever
Innocent King’s Lynn hero attacked with a cane on a London street. Captain George Vancouver: The Caning in Conduit Street In September 1796 a 39 […]
Read moreTime for Edith and Thomas
If you were a merchant sailor in the port in King’s Lynn in the seventeenth century and wanted to know both the time and height […]
Read moreThe Biscuits and the Cannon Ball
Hampton Court (14th – C17th) in King’s Lynn is a very interesting series of buildings. The complex was finished by biscuits and finally saved by […]
Read moreHanseatic League and King’s Lynn (3 of 3)
What happened to the Hanseatic Buildings in Lynn after the 1474 Peace Settlement? After permission was granted to build on the site (see Hanseatic League […]
Read moreHanseatic League and King’s Lynn (1 of 3)
Why did trade disputes miles away at sea end up leaving such a mark on a Norfolk Market Town? The Bay Fleet Attacks In the […]
Read moreThe Sinner and the Dragon: St Margaret’s, King’s Lynn
We all have three lives: a public life, a private life, and a secret one. Gabriel García Márquez The novelist García Márquez once said that […]
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