The Listed Buildings of King’s Lynn: a Town Preserved in Plain Sight
King’s Lynn is often described as a historic town, but that phrase barely does it justice. What makes Lynn distinctive is not simply the age of its buildings, but the sheer quantity and variety of those that remain protected. Few towns of comparable size contain such a dense concentration of listed structures, ranging from major medieval monuments to modest houses, yards, walls, warehouses and river fittings.
These listings are not confined to one picturesque quarter. They stretch across the town, from King Street and the river quays to residential terraces, former schools, chapels, inns and civic buildings. Together they form a remarkably complete record of how King’s Lynn developed, adapted and endured.
What it means for a building to be listed
A building is listed when it is judged to be of special architectural or historic interest and of national importance. In King’s Lynn, listings fall into the three familiar grades. Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest. Grade II* buildings are particularly important, while Grade II buildings, which form the majority, are still nationally significant and legally protected.
What matters here is scale. King’s Lynn does not rely on a handful of showpiece buildings to carry its historic identity. Instead, the town’s character emerges from hundreds of listed structures that collectively preserve the shape and texture of the historic settlement.
Photo © James Rye 2026
Trade, religion and power
The historicall core of King’s Lynn remains unusually intact. King Street alone contains one of the finest sequences of historic commercial buildings in eastern England. Here stand three Grade I buildings within a short stretch, alongside major Grade II and II* survivals that once formed the backbone of the port’s trading economy.
The Medieval Merchants’ House, the White Barn, the Red Barn, the Globe Hotel and the Guildhall of St George are not isolated relics. They were part of a working system of storage, administration, hospitality and civic authority tied directly to the river. Their survival allows the medieval town to be read clearly, not imagined.
Religious buildings reinforce this picture. The Minster of St Margaret, the largest parish church in Norfolk, dominates the town both physically and historically. Nearby stand All Saints’ Church, Greyfriars Tower, the Chapel of St Nicholas and the Red Mount Chapel. Even ruined structures such as St James’s Chapel or the remains of the friaries are listed, recognising their importance within the medieval landscape.
Streets that still make sense
One of King’s Lynn’s great strengths lies in its ordinary historic streets. All Saints Street, Chapel Street, Church Street, Nelson Street, Norfolk Street, Portland Street and St James’ Street all contain long runs of listed buildings. Many are small houses, shops or former inns, but together they preserve the rhythm and scale of the historic town.
Nelson Street is especially striking. The survival of Hampton Court as a complete seventeenth century domestic complex, now divided into multiple dwellings but still Grade I throughout, is exceptional. It shows how listing can protect not just façades but entire living environments.
The riverfront and the working port
The river is central to King’s Lynn’s story, and the concentration of listed buildings along the quays reflects that importance. Purfleet Quay, South Quay, Common Staithe Quay and King’s Staithe Square are lined with warehouses, counting houses, offices, bridges and associated structures.
The Custom House is the most famous of these buildings, but it is only one part of a larger ensemble that includes the Bank House, Marriott’s Warehouse and Sommerfeld and Thomas’s warehouse. Even railings, lamps, bollards and quay walls are listed, because they form part of a coherent working environment rather than decorative extras.
Victorian confidence and civic identity
The nineteenth century added a new layer to King’s Lynn, one marked by civic ambition and public provision. Schools, courts, libraries, memorials and the railway station all belong to this period. Buildings such as King Edward VII High School, the Carnegie Library and the Corn Exchange were designed to project confidence, stability and improvement.
Almshouses, hospitals and memorials add a quieter note, recording philanthropy, loss and collective responsibility. These buildings are often overlooked, yet they tell us a great deal about how the town understood itself in an age of reform and expansion.
Walls, gates and overlooked survivals
Some of King’s Lynn’s most evocative listed structures are also the easiest to miss. Lengths of the town wall survive at several points, including Broad Walk, Kettlewell Lane and Littleport Terrace. Gates such as the South Gate and the North Guannock Gate still mark historic points of entry.
Elsewhere, listing extends to garden walls, gateways, railings and even individual cannon bollards. These small survivals help explain how the town was controlled, defended and organised. Without protection, many would already have vanished.
The List
A historic building will be a particular grade. They are:
- Grade I – of exceptional national architectural or historic importance
- Grade II* – of particular national importance & special interest
- Grade II – of special architectural or historic interest (this makes up about 94% of all listed buildings)
KING’S LYNN
| Aickman’s Yard | |
| Aickman’s House (listed as 1) | II |
| 1 and 3 (listed as 3 & 4) | II |
| Wall of car park to Old School Court (listed as wall 12m E of river bank) | II |
| All Saints Street | |
| 25 | II |
| 26 | II |
| 27 | II |
| 28 | II |
| 29 | II |
| 30 | II |
| 31 | II |
| 32 | II |
| 33 | II |
| 34 | II |
| 35 | II |
| 36 | II |
| Austin Street | |
| 15 Austin House | II |
| 15A | II |
| North Gateway to Austin Friary precinct | II |
| Baines Road | |
| The Brick Kiln Delisted 08.08.18 | II |
| Blackfriars Road | |
| 3 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 4 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 5 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 6 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 7 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 8 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 9 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 10 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 11 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 12 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 13 St John’s Terrace | II |
| 14 Belgrave Hotel | II |
| King’s Lynn Railway Station | II |
| Church of St John the Evangelist | II |
| Blackfriars Street | |
| Stepney Chapel | II |
| Bridge Street | |
| 28 Greenland Fishery House | II* |
| 30 | II |
| 31 | II |
| 32 | II |
| 33 | II |
| 34 | II |
| 35 | II |
| 36 | II |
| 37 | II |
| 38 Society of Friends Meeting House | II |
| Broad Walk | |
| North Guannock Gate & part town wall | II* |
| Chapel Lane | |
| 8 The Exorcist’s House | II |
| Canon bollard SE Exorcist’s House | II |
| Chapel Street | |
| 25 | II |
| 37,39 & 41 Lattice House | II* |
| 42 Westgate House | II |
| 78 | II |
| 80 Listergate | II |
| Church Lane | |
| 5 | II |
| 6 | II |
| All Saints Church | II* |
| Churchyard gates from Church Lane | II |
| Church Street | |
| 17 | II* |
| 18 | II* |
| Friarscot | II |
| Common Staithe Quay | |
| King’s Lynn Conservancy Board Offices | II |
| County Court Road | |
| Ruins of St James’s Chapel (adjoins Vancouver House) | II |
| Ruins of St James’s ancillary buildings (adjoins Vancouver House) | II |
| Crossbank Road | |
| 1 – 5 St Edmunds Terrace | II |
| 6 St Edmunds Terrance | II |
| The Old Battery House | II |
| Ferry Street | |
| Crown & Mitre Public House | II |
| Friars Street | |
| 33 | II |
| 47 | II |
| 49 | II |
| Gaywood Road | |
| Gaywood Hospital Almshouses | II |
| Wall & gates to almshouses | II |
| Bridge at east gate | II |
| King Edward VII High School | II* |
| Gates & piers to King Edward VII School | II |
| Porters’ Lodge to King Ed VII School | II |
| Statue of King Edward VII at School | II |
| Goodwins Road | |
| 81 Elmer Lodge | II |
| Guanock Place | |
| 1 | II |
| 2 | II |
| 3 | II |
| 4 | II |
| 5 | II |
| 6 | II |
| 7 | II |
| 8 | II |
| 9 | II |
| 10 | II |
| 11 | II |
| Hardwick Road | |
| Fife Fishing Memorial in Cemetery | II |
| High Street | |
| 1 | II |
| 2 | II |
| 23 | II |
| 26 | II |
| 37 | II |
| 38 & 39 | II |
| 48 | II |
| 49 | II |
| 50 | II |
| 51 | II |
| 52 | II |
| 53 | II |
| 53A | II |
| 54 | II |
| 56 | II |
| 56A | II |
| 61 | II |
| 62 | II |
| 65 | II |
| 81 | II* |
| 81A | II* |
| 81B | II* |
| 82 | II |
| 83 | II |
| 84 | II |
| 102 | II |
| 103 | II |
| 103A | II |
| 103B | II |
| 123 Wenn’s Hotel | II |
| Kettlewell Lane | |
| Length of town wall | II* |
| King Street | |
| 1 Purfleet House | II |
| 3 | II |
| 3A | II |
| 4 | II |
| 5 Musgrave House | II* |
| 6 | II |
| 7 & 9 Medieval Merchants House | II* |
| 7A (Listed as Health Centre 5m SW 7&9) | II* |
| 7B Dental Surgery 22m WSW 7&9 | II |
| 9A Pool House (Listed as Health Centre 29m W 7&9) | II |
| 8 Chancery House, Berry and Walton | II |
| 10 | II |
| Canon bollard SE corner arch to No 10 | II |
| Canon bollard SW corner arch to No 10 | II |
| 11 | II |
| 13A | II |
| 14 & 14A | II |
| 15 | II* |
| 15A | II* |
| 16 | II |
| 18 | II |
| 17 Wood House | II |
| 19 Hayhow and Co | II |
| 20 | II |
| 21 Old School Court | II |
| Railings to forecourt of 21 | II |
| 23 & 25 | II |
| 24 & 26 | II |
| 27 | II* |
| The White Barn | II |
| 28 | I |
| 29 Shakespeare House | II |
| 30 | I |
| 31 Globe Hotel | II |
| 32 | I |
| 34 | II |
| 36 | II |
| 40 | II |
| 42 | II |
| 46 | II |
| 48 | II |
| Canon bollard at junction of Ferry Lane | II |
| Guildhall of St George | I |
| Red Barn SW Guildhall in courtyard | II |
| Arts Centre & Players Rehearsal Room | II |
| Riverside Rooms Restaurant | II |
| Purfleet Bridge (West Side) | II |
| King’s Staithe Lane | |
| 1 | II |
| Warehouse on S side (now flats & shops) | II |
| King’s Staithe Square | |
| 3 | II |
| 3A | II |
| 4 | II |
| 5 King Staithe Mill | II |
| The Bank House | II* |
| Railings, wall and lamp to the front of the Bank House | II |
| The Counting House (Listed as The Bank) | II |
| Littleport Street | |
| 5 | II |
| 17 | II |
| Hob in the Well Public House | II |
| Littleport Terrace | |
| Length of town wall | II* |
| London Road | |
| 23 | II |
| 24 | II |
| 25 | II |
| 32 Whites Newsagents | II |
| 33 | II |
| 34 | II |
| 35 | II |
| 49 Charford House & railings | II |
| 60 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 61 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 62 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 63 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 64 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 65 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 66 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 67 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 68 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 69 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 70 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 71 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 72 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 73 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 74 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 75 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 76 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 77 Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 77A Buckingham Terrace | II |
| 79 | II |
| 88 | II |
| 89 | II |
| 90 | II |
| 91 & railings | II |
| 92 | II |
| 93 | II |
| 94 | II |
| 95 | II |
| 96 | II |
| 97 | II |
| 104 | II |
| 105 | II |
| South Gate | I |
| Market Lane | |
| 1 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 2 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 3 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 4 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 5 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 6 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 7 Fells Warehouse | II |
| 8 Fells Warehouse | II |
| Market Street | |
| The Lynn Museum | II |
| Nelson Street | |
| Flat 1 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 2 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 3 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 4 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 5 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 6 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 7 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 8 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 9 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 10 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 11 Hampton Court | I |
| Flat 12 Hampton Court | I |
| 1 | I |
| 3 | I |
| 5 | I |
| 2 (Valiant Sailor) | II* |
| 4 | II |
| 6 | II |
| 8 | II |
| 10 | II |
| 9 | II* |
| 11 & 13 Burnham House & attached walls | II* |
| 12 | II |
| 14 | II |
| 16 | II |
| 18 | II |
| 20 | II |
| 15 & 17 | II* |
| 19 Oxley House | II* |
| 22 | II |
| 24 | II |
| 26 | II |
| 28 | II |
| 30 Ladybridge House | II |
| Garden walls to South and East | II |
| 36 | II |
| The Maltings | II |
| Norfolk Street | |
| 5 Francis Wain Jewellers | II |
| 6A 6B | II |
| 26 | II |
| 37 38 | II |
| 51 | II |
| 52 | II |
| 53 | II |
| 61 | II |
| 74 & 75 | II |
| 99 | II |
| 100 | II |
| 117 | II |
| 118 | II |
| 142 | II |
| North Street | |
| 5 and 6 Trues Yard Cottages | II |
| Pilot Street | |
| 22 Cobblestone Cottage | II |
| 24 | II |
| 26 | II |
| 28 | II |
| 30 | II* |
| 32 | II* |
| Railings and gates to S & E of churchyard | II |
| Portland Street | II |
| 3 (including attached railings) | II |
| 5 (including attached railings) | II |
| 7 (including attached railings) | II |
| 9 (including attached railings) | II |
| 11 (including attached railings) | II |
| 13 (including attached railings) | II |
| 15 (including attached railings) | II |
| Priory Lane | |
| 5 | II |
| 6 | II |
| 7 | II |
| 12 | II* |
| 13 | II* |
| 14 | II* |
| 15 | II* |
| 16 | II* |
| 17 | II* |
| 18 | II* |
| 19 | II* |
| 20 | II* |
| Purfleet Place | |
| 1 | II* |
| 2 | II* |
| 3 | II* |
| Purfleet Quay | |
| Custom House | I |
| 18 & 19 including cellars and wall to the East (Listed as offices of Robert Freakley & Asscs) | II |
| Purfleet Street | |
| 14 | II |
| 15 | II |
| Queen Street | |
| 15 | II |
| 17 Clifton House | I |
| 19A | II |
| 19B | II |
| 19C | II |
| 21 | II |
| 23A | II |
| 23B | II |
| Wall behind 23 | II |
| 25 | II* |
| 27A 27B | IIII |
| 29A 29B | II*II* |
| Purfleet Bridge (East Side) | II |
| Town Hall | II |
| Thoresby College | I |
| 1 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 2 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 3 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 4 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 5 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 6 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 7 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 8 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 9 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 10 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 11 Burkitt Homes | II |
| 12 Burkitt Homes | II |
| Sundial in courtyard of Burkitt Homes | II |
| Saturday Market Place | |
| 1 Pizza Express | II |
| 2 | II |
| 3 Hidden Hearing | II |
| 4 | II |
| 5 Premier | II |
| 6 | II |
| 8 Wenn’s Hotel 9 Wenn’s Hotel | II |
| 10 & 11 (Listed as Charterhouse Restaurant) | II |
| King’s Lynn Minster (Listed as St Margaret’s Church) | I |
| Gates piers & railings to churchyard | II |
| Gaolhouse | II* |
| Guildhall | I |
| Assembly Rooms rear Guildhall | II |
| Sedgeford Lane | |
| 1 & 2 | II |
| South Lynn Plain | |
| 7 | II |
| South Quay | |
| 8 | II |
| 9 & 10 | II |
| Marriott’s Warehouse | II* |
| Sommerfeld & Thomas Warehouse & wall to E | II |
| Southgate Street | |
| 3 | II |
| 4 | II |
| 5 | II |
| 7 | II |
| 8 | II |
| 9 | II |
| 10 | II |
| 11 | II |
| St Ann’s Fort | |
| 7 | II |
| Watergate of St Ann’s Fort | II |
| St Ann’s Street | |
| 2A | II* |
| 2B | II* |
| 2C | II* |
| 4 | II* |
| 6 | II* |
| 5A Old Smoke House | II |
| Trues Yard (Listed under North Street) | II |
| 12 | II |
| 14,16,18 St Ann’s House | II |
| Chapel of St Nicholas | I |
| Gates & railings to E churchyard | II |
| Table tomb 3m S south porch | II |
| St James’ Road | |
| County Court & railings | II |
| Framingham’s Hospital Almshouses | II |
| London Road Methodist Chapel | II |
| The Carnegie Library | II |
| St James’ Street | |
| 1 White Hart Public House | II |
| 3 | II |
| 5 Beautique Beauty Salon | II |
| 6 | II |
| 7 | II |
| 8 | II |
| 10 The Record Shop | II |
| 12 The Record Shop | II |
| 14 Solaris | II |
| 15 | II |
| 16 | II |
| 17 | II |
| 18 Boldero and Filby Hair Co Ltd | II |
| 20 St James Launderette | II |
| 20A | II |
| 21 | II |
| 22 Dragon Capital | II |
| 23 | II |
| 24 | II |
| 25 Old Curiosity Shop | II |
| 26 | II |
| 27 Boulton Seymour | II |
| 28 Lily Nails | II |
| 30 Aven | II |
| 33 – 39 | II |
| Greyfriars Tower | I |
| Cross beneath Greyfriars Tower (Now sited at Lynn Museum) | II* |
| Stone Arches in Tower Gardens | II |
| War Memorial in Tower Gardens | II |
| St Margaret’s Lane | |
| Canon bollard at junction with South Quay | II |
| Warehouse & TS Vancouver | II |
| St Margaret’s Place | |
| 1 Magistrates’ Court | II* |
| 2 | II* |
| Gates piers & railings to churchyard | II |
| Hansa House (Listed as St Margaret’s House) | I |
| St Margaret’s Vicarage | II |
| Garden wall & gates to Vicarage | II |
| St Nicholas Street | |
| 4 St Nicholas House (Listed as No 10) | II* |
| 6 Woolmarket House (Listed as No 11) | II* |
| 17 | II |
| 26 Whites House | II |
| Ruins of doorway | II |
| Stonegate Street | |
| 7 Stonegate House | II |
| 9 | II |
| 10 | II |
| Walls to Jewish cemetery | II |
| The Friars | |
| North Gateway to Carmelite Friary | II* |
| The Walks | |
| Red Mount Chapel | I |
| North Guannock gate & part town walls | II* |
| Tower Street | |
| Majestic Cinema | II |
| 21 Liquor and Loaded | II |
| 29 Whincop House | II |
| Tuesday Market Place | |
| 1 – 3 Lloyds Bank Building | II |
| 4 National Westminster Bank | II |
| House to rear of 4 | II |
| 5 & 6 Duke’s Head Hotel | II |
| 7 Mayden’s Head Hotel | II |
| 8 | II |
| 10 Ward Gethin | II |
| 11 | II |
| 12 | II |
| 14 | II |
| 14A | II |
| 15 | II* |
| 16 | II* |
| 17 Lynn News | II |
| 17A | II |
| 18 Bishops Lynn House | II* |
| 19 Hawkins Solicitors | II |
| 20 Corn Exchange | II |
| 21 Fraser Dawbarns Solicitors | II |
| Canon bollard to rear 21 Barclay’s Bank | II |
| 23 Bank Chambers | II |
| 24 West Norfolk Insurance Services | II |
| 27 Brittons Estate Agents | II |
| 28 Brittons Estate Agents | II |
| 29 Jai Chemist | II |
| Valingers Road | |
| 7 | II |
| 8 | II |
| 9 | II |
| 10 | II |
| 14 | II |
© James Rye 2026
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Source
https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20081/conservation_and_listed_buildings/138/listed_buildings