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King's Lynn
King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is located north of London, north-east of Peterborough, no ...
is an English
market town
A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...
in
West Norfolk. This list details a selection of some of the more prominent buildings in the town.
Churches
All Saints' Church
![080122 - all saints church 007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/080122_-_all_saints_church_007.JPG)
All Saints' Church () in
South Lynn predates the
Domesday Book
Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manusc ...
of 1086, where it is described as All Hallows, in a reference to the founding of a
Cluniac
The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began wit ...
priory by Lord Ralph de Tony. The church is known today for the Anchorhold room located on the south side of a church. For a period of several centuries it was occupied by cloistered
Anchorite
In Christianity, an anchorite or anchoret (female: anchoress) is someone who, for religious reasons, withdraws from secular society so as to be able to lead an intensely prayer-oriented, ascetic, or Eucharist-focused life. While anchorites are ...
women. The church is grade II*
listed
Listed may refer to:
* Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm
* Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic
* Endangered species in biology
* Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...
.
King's Lynn Minster (St Margaret's Church)
![Kings-lynn-st-margarets-church-2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Kings-lynn-st-margarets-church-2.jpg)
The construction of St Margaret's Church () in 1101 is the point at which King's Lynn first came into existence in terms of how it is now recognised today. Commissioned by the
Bishop of Norwich
The Bishop of Norwich is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers most of the county of Norfolk and part of Suffolk. The bishop of Norwich is Graham Usher.
The see is in the ...
,
Herbert de Losinga
Herbert de Losinga (died 22 July 1119) was the first Bishop of Norwich. He founded Norwich Cathedral in 1096 when he was Bishop of Thetford.
Life
Losinga was born in Exmes, near Argentan, Normandy, the son of Robert de LosingaDoubleday and Page ...
, at the request of the townspeople 'in honour of the Holy
Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...
and St Margaret and all holy virgins', the church is one of the town's most dominating landmarks. Along with
St Nicholas' church in Great Yarmouth, it was granted the honorific title of "
minster" in 2011.
The most serious damage to the church occurred in 1741, when a great storm destroyed the spires of St Margaret's church and St Nicholas' Chapel as well as St Margaret's central lantern. Despite generous donations totalling £1,000 from
George II George II or 2 may refer to:
People
* George II of Antioch (seventh century AD)
* George II of Armenia (late ninth century)
* George II of Abkhazia (916–960)
* Patriarch George II of Alexandria (1021–1051)
* George II of Georgia (1072–1089) ...
and
Robert Walpole
Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, (26 August 1676 – 18 March 1745; known between 1725 and 1742 as Sir Robert Walpole) was a British statesman and Whig politician who, as First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader ...
, the £3,500 required was not raised, and the church was not able to be restored to its former glory.
The sixteen
misericord
A misericord (sometimes named mercy seat, like the biblical object) is a small wooden structure formed on the underside of a folding seat in a church which, when the seat is folded up, is intended to act as a shelf to support a person in a par ...
s date from 1370 to 1377. These predominately feature heads; for instance, S-02 is the head of Edward the Black Prince. The supporters are mainly floral / foliate.
The church is a
Grade I listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
.
St Nicholas Chapel
![Kings-lynn-st-nich-chapel](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Kings-lynn-st-nich-chapel.JPG)
St Nicholas Chapel () was constructed around 1200, during the expansion of Lynn by Bishop William Turbus, the third Bishop of Norwich. The expansion saw not only the construction of the chapel, but also the Tuesday Market Place, which is still the primary marketplace in the town today. Consequently, the chapel quickly became Lynn's second church by a comfortable margin. It was not long before it was so popular that it launched pleas to become an independent parish from St Margaret's Church; in 1426 St Nicholas Chapel had congregations of 1,400 – compared to 1,600 at St Margaret's. Despite this, it took until 1627 before the chapel obtained baptismal rights.
Due to its rise in popularity, and the fact that the north of Lynn became quite affluent, the chapel was rebuilt between 1380 and 1410 on a much larger scale in the
grand perpendicular scale of the time.
The church is England's largest
chapel of ease
A chapel of ease (or chapel-of-ease) is a church architecture, church building other than the parish church, built within the bounds of a parish for the attendance of those who cannot reach the parish church conveniently.
Often a chapel of ea ...
, a chapel dependent on a church and serving part of the parish for the convenience of parishioners nearby.
![King's Lynn St Nicholas Angel Roof 6](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/King%27s_Lynn_St_Nicholas_Angel_Roof_6.jpg)
The church is most distinctive for its tall spire, although it is not the original. There were at least two spires previously – one of which was destroyed in the storm of 1741 (along with the spire and lantern of St Margaret's), and another which stood from 1749 to 1854 (described as 'never a regular spire but a kind of wooden extinguisher stuck on to be seen at sea').
The chapel is a Grade I listed building.
Historical buildings
St George's Guildhall
St George's Guildhall in King's Lynn is a Grade 1 listed building, currently in the ownership of the National Trust. At 32.6 x 8.8 m (107 x 29 feet), it is the oldest and largest complete medieval Guildhall in England with an unrivalled history as a venue for theatrical production. At present it is leased by the Borough Council for hire by the public as a space for music, performances, lectures and entertainments.
Custom House
![Kings Lynn Customs House pier](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/58/Kings_Lynn_Customs_House_pier.jpg)
The King's Lynn Custom House () is one of the town's most iconic landmarks. It was designed by architect
Henry Bell and built by Sir John Turner in 1683. It was not the first Custom House built for the town – originally one was constructed in 1620 on the site where the Hogge Mansion is currently located (currently occupied by
Barclay's Bank
Barclays () is a British multinational universal bank, headquartered in London, England. Barclays operates as two divisions, Barclays UK and Barclays International, supported by a service company, Barclays Execution Services.
Barclays traces ...
); however, this was too small and as a result a larger one was needed; St George's Guildhall was used in the intervening years.
It is a Grade I listed building.
The building was described by architect
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner (30 January 1902 – 18 August 1983) was a German-British art historian and architectural historian best known for his monumental 46-volume series of county-by-county guides, ''The Buildings of England'' (1 ...
as "one of the most perfect buildings ever built". He was an admirer of King's Lynn in general, also commenting that the walk from the Tuesday Market Place to the River (by the Custom House) was one of the finest in the world.
Greyfriars Tower
![Kings-lynn-greyfriars](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Kings-lynn-greyfriars.JPG)
The Greyfriars Tower () is the only remaining part of the
Franciscan monastery on this site, and one of only three surviving Franciscan monastery towers in England and is considered to be the finest. It is a Grade I listed building.
Following the
Dissolution of the Monasteries by
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
, nearly all such monasteries were demolished. The tower at Lynn remained because it was considered to be a useful seamark by sailors entering the town, still being clearly visible on the town's skyline to this day.
The tower is informally referred to as 'the leaning tower of Lynn'
[BBCi: Restoration – Series 1]
, BBCi Restoration Homepage as it leans dramatically to the west. At its worst, the lean was 67.5 centimetres – which given its height of more than 28 metres is just over 1 degree. This compares to 3.98 degrees on the
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa ( it, torre pendente di Pisa), or simply, the Tower of Pisa (''torre di Pisa'' ), is the ''bell tower, campanile'', or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result ...
.
Although it is not believed to be in imminent danger of collapse, until recently it did require work to correct the lean to ensure it remains a part of the King's Lynn skyline. This was completed by August 2006 and on 18 October 2006 the grounds were officially opened by the Mayor, Councillor Ann Clery-Fox.
The tower itself was featured in the first season of the
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
TV series
''Restoration'' for the Eastern region.
South Gate
![cmglee_Kings_Lynn_South_Gate](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Cmglee_Kings_Lynn_South_Gate.jpg)
The South Gate () is one of the most recognisable structures in King's Lynn, as most visitors to the town still have to pass through it. Originally constructed in the 14th century, it was rebuilt in the 1450s, much in the form that is seen today. However the
ashlar
Ashlar () is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared, or a structure built from such stones. Ashlar is the finest stone masonry unit, generally rectangular cuboid, mentioned by Vitruv ...
front, which gives the building a much more imposing impression, is merely a facade which was added in 1520; the structure itself is actually
bricks and mortar
Bricks and Mortar (foaled March 2, 2014) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was named the American Horse of the Year in 2019. After winning four of six starts at age three, he missed most of his four-year-old campaign due to illness. At a ...
, which given the date of construction makes it one of the oldest surviving brick structures in the country. It is a Grade I listed building.
Although the gate has stood largely unaltered since the 1520, it was modified later in the 19th century with the two smaller arches to the side of the main one. Whilst the main arch was used for horse-drawn carriages, the smaller arches were intended for pedestrians – mainly the lower class. However, by the end of the 19th century the traffic demands had grown so much that in 1899 London Road was widened, and now the gate only straddles half of the road.
Today, traffic still passes through the arch to enter from the south. The structure is situated on London Road, one of the busiest roads in the town, meaning there is a constant stream of traffic through it during the day. Despite this, accidents are unheard of, as the arch can comfortably fit most forms of traffic from articulated lorries to double-decker buses.
Town Hall and Trinity Guildhall
![Kings-lynn-townhall](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Kings-lynn-townhall.JPG)
The town hall of King's Lynn () has existed since the early fifteenth century, between 1422 and 1428, when the
Guildhall of the Holy Trinity was built. It is the most prominent feature of the town hall today with its steep arched roof, large window and chequered patterned exterior. The building was enlarged in 1624, when an extension with the same chequered style was added which now forms the main entrance to the town hall. The guildhall is a Grade I listed building.
The arms of
Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was Queen of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is sometimes referred to as the "Virgin Queen".
El ...
can be seen above the main window on this building. They were removed from St James' Church on 7 August 1624. The arms of
Charles II are above them – they were added 40 years later.
Corn Exchange
![Corn exchange on the Tuesday market place, Kings Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Corn_exchange_on_the_Tuesday_market_place%2C_Kings_Lynn.jpg)
The Grade II listed facade of King's Lynn Corn Exchange, originally built in 1854, is a testimony to the glory of Victorian architecture. The hall itself is a simple brick rectangle with a glazed roof supported by delicate wrought-iron trusses. The building was still used for community events until the mid-1990s, although showing signs of age. A project to restore and enlarge it, as had been done with Cambridge corn exchange in the mid-1980s, was begun with the aim of creating a venue suitable for a wide range of cultural activities.
The transformed building was reopened in 1996 after a £4.4million revamp. A brick extension was added at the rear of the building to accommodate staff facilities. The statue above the magnificent facade is that of
Demeter
In ancient Greek religion and mythology, Demeter (; Attic: ''Dēmḗtēr'' ; Doric: ''Dāmā́tēr'') is the Olympian goddess of the harvest and agriculture, presiding over crops, grains, food, and the fertility of the earth. Although s ...
, Greek goddess of the harvest.
The Dukes Head hotel
The
Dukes Head is reputed to be one of the most haunted buildings in King's Lynn. It stands on the site of an ancient inn called the Gryffin. There is a grey lady, the man who reputedly shot himself in room 18 during the 18th century, and probably a host of other less spooktacular residents.
Red Mount
![Kings-lynn-red-mount](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Kings-lynn-red-mount.JPG)
Sitting in the centre of
The Walks, King's Lynn's main urban park, lies the Red Mount chapel (). Also known as 'Our Lady's Chapel' it is a remarkable building in that it is completely unique and no other building like it can be found. It was built in the 15th century to contain a relic of the Virgin, but was also used by pilgrims on their way to
Walsingham.
It was built by Robert Corraunce on instructions from the Prior of Lynn. The inner core is divided into 3 storeys and there is an additional cross-shaped ashlar building in
Ancaster stone on top.
Before the renovation of the Walks, its location in the centre of the park meant it was the target of vandalism – particularly graffiti. However, since rejuvenating the Walks, the curious landmark is now open to the public during the day. It is a Grade I listed building. The Red Mount was the subject of a painting by
Thomas Baines
(John) Thomas Baines (27 November 1820 – 8 May 1875) was an English artist and explorer of British colonial southern Africa and Australia.
Life and work
Born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, on 27 November 1820, Baines was apprenticed to a coach ...
.
Library
![Kings-lynn-library](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Kings-lynn-library.JPG)
The King's Lynn library () was funded and opened by philanthropist
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans i ...
. It is possible that he chose King's Lynn as a site for the library due to its close proximity to the
Royal residence
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whic ...
in
Sandringham Sandringham can refer to:
Places
* Sandringham, New South Wales, Australia
* Sandringham, Queensland, Australia
* Sandringham, Victoria, Australia
**Sandringham railway line
**Sandringham railway station
**Electoral district of Sandringham
* Sand ...
in an attempt to get a knighthood – however, this is probably a cynical point of view given Carnegie's history of financing libraries across the world, as well as his positive comments regarding King's Lynn and similar towns in his autobiography. It had a brief period of fame in May 2010 following reports in the national press that bouncers had been hired to keep order in the Library following incidences of anti-social behaviour. The ghostly monk who reputedly haunts the cellar is another matter however, at one time, female staff were apparently too scared to enter the area by themselves.
The library is built on the site of the Greyfriars monastery, and sits adjacent to the remains of the tower. The library is still in use today and is still the town's primary library, opening Monday to Saturday. It is situated on London Road, the main entrance to the town, opposite one of the entrances to
the Walks, the town's main urban park.
Old county court house
![Old county court house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Old_county_court_house.JPG)
The County Court was built in 1861 and closed in the recent years. It is now home to a firm of solicitors.
Theatre Royal
![Theatre Royal, Kings Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/Theatre_Royal%2C_Kings_Lynn.JPG)
The Theatre Royal () is situated in St James Street next to the Greyfriars Tower. It is no longer used as a theatre and is now the home of Gala bingo. The present building replaced a previous structure that burnt down in May 1936.
The Majestic Cinema
![The Majestic Cinema](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/The_Majestic_Cinema.JPG)
One of King's Lynn's most beautiful buildings. The cinema, situated in Tower Street, was built and run by Ernest,Ralph,Adams in 1927. Mr. Adams worked closely with architects Carnell and White, in its design and construction, buying the contents of the Empire, Leicester Square, London, which following restoration, were installed in the interior of the Majestic. The Majestic officially opened on 23 May 1928; It was later owned by Union and subsequently ABC Cinemas. this year is commemorated in the stained glass window at the front of the building.
Hanseatic Warehouse
![Hanseatic Warehouse King's Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Hanseatic_Warehouse_King%27s_Lynn.JPG)
Located on St Margaret's Lane, the Hanseatic Warehouse () is the only surviving
Hansa building in England. It was constructed in 1475 following the
Treaty of Utrecht
The Peace of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties signed by the belligerents in the War of the Spanish Succession, in the Dutch city of Utrecht between April 1713 and February 1715. The war involved three contenders for the vacant throne o ...
, allowing Hansa to establish a trading depot in Lynn for the first time. It was used as such until 1751, by which time the river had receded. It was then sold to Lynn merchant Edward Everard for £800. He added the Georgian town house at the East side of the building which is now known as St. Margaret's House (and Grade I listed), after the nearby church.
In 1971 it was renovated as part of a preservation project and converted into offices by the Norfolk County Council. It is currently used by the council for various functions, including weddings, as it houses Lynn's register office.
The building is also known as the
Kontor
A ''kontor'' () was a foreign trading post of the Hanseatic League.
In addition to the major ''kontore'' in London (the Steelyard), Bruges, Bergen (Bryggen), and Novgorod (Peterhof), some ports had a representative merchant and a warehouse.
E ...
.
Hampton Court
![Kings-lynn-hampton-court](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Kings-lynn-hampton-court.JPG)
Located near to St Margaret's Church, Hampton Court () is a Grade I listed group of buildings forming a quadrangular shape which were built up over a period of 300 years.
The South Wing was constructed first, consisting mainly of a 14th-century merchant's
hall house
The hall house is a type of vernacular house traditional in many parts of England, Wales, Ireland and lowland Scotland, as well as northern Europe, during the Middle Ages, centring on a hall. Usually timber-framed, some high status examples wer ...
and is thus the earliest surviving section.
The West Wing was constructed towards the end of the 15th century, probably as a warehouse to better service and extend the business part of the merchants premises. When it was constructed, it was on the edge of the river bank, but by the 17th century the river had receded and the warehouse was converted into a house.
Clifton House
![Clifton house tower](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Clifton_house_tower.JPG)
Clifton House () is a Grade I listed building located at the heart of King's Lynn. A former merchant's house, it retains an amazing series of historic interiors dating from the 13th to the 18th centuries. Features of interest include two tiled floors from the later 13th century (the largest in-situ tiled floors in any secular building in Britain); the 14th-century vaulted undercroft; the five-storey Elizabethan tower and a series of rooms created by the architect Henry Bell in 1700.
The house is a privately owned family home, but is open to visitors on a number of occasions during the year.
[Clifton House, A Medieval Merchants House]
, Clifton House Website
Marriott's Warehouse
![Green quay](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Green_quay.JPG)
Marriott's Warehouse, was originally an old Tudor Warehouse built on the quayside late in the
Elizabethan Era
The Elizabethan era is the epoch in the Tudor period of the history of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603). Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history. The symbol of Britannia (a female personifi ...
(1533–1603). Thomas Clayborne funded its construction. It was used to store corn from visiting ships, and is believed to have been constructed with robbed out materials taken from monastic properties confiscated by the crown during the
Dissolution of the Monasteries in the reign of
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
(1491–1547). Restored in the early 2000s as The Green Quay the building has now reverted to its original name. It is now used as an educational facility, with exhibits about
The Wash
The Wash is a rectangular bay and multiple estuary at the north-west corner of East Anglia on the East coast of England, where Norfolk, England, Norfolk meets Lincolnshire and both border the North Sea. One of Britain's broadest estuaries, it i ...
,
The Fens
The Fens, also known as the , in eastern England are a naturally marshy region supporting a rich ecology and numerous species. Most of the fens were drained centuries ago, resulting in a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a ...
and local heritage on the upper floors, while the ground floor has become a popular restaurant.
St Anne's Fort
![St Annes fort](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/St_Annes_fort.JPG)
Built in 1570. Located in the northwest corner of the town where the Fisher Fleet joined the Ouse, it was the major fortification in Lynn until replaced by defences outside the town in 1839. It was originally just an earthwork platform for cannons, some buildings, a section of wall and a gate giving access to the Fisher Fleet. In 1625 pirate raids on Lynn led to the town petitioning the King for 12 guns for the battery. These were delivered. Even as late as 1778, when the ten guns in the fort were replaced by ten 18-pounders, the battery had no protective parapet. Troops were billeted here for many years. Decommissioned in 1839, it was never more than a coastal battery. Today there are only fragmentary remains of walls and the pilot's office. Until the late 1930s a small square lock-up stood nearby where drunken sailors and townspeople were incarcerated for the night.
The Lattice House
![Lattice house](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/Lattice_house.JPG)
This pub (originally a 15thC town house) situated in Chapel Street, not far from the Tuesday Market Place, uses the name acquired in 1714, when this ancient building first became an inn. Previously, it had been used for centuries by the clerks of the nearby Chapel of St Nicholas.
The growth of Lynn, in the 18th century, saw the building of new taverns, as well as the conversion of shops or workshops. The Lattice House is an example of the latter, becoming a public house in 1714. For many years it was called Ye Olde Lattice Inn, until its closure in 1919.
It became a public house once again in 1982.
The Grampus
![The Grampus, Pilot street](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/The_Grampus%2C_Pilot_street.JPG)
An old hostelry in Pilot street.
It ceased to be a public house in 1921 and is now a private residence.
The Valiant Sailor
![The valiant sailor pub, Nelson street, KIngs Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/The_valiant_sailor_pub%2C_Nelson_street%2C_KIngs_Lynn.JPG)
A 15th-century building in Nelson street. It probably became an inn in the late 1600 but ceased to be licensed in 1925. The well-known artist
Walter Dexter lived here until his tragic death in 1958, when he was struck by a motorbike while crossing a road.
The Exorcist's house
![Exorcist's house, KIngs Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Exorcist%27s_house%2C_KIngs_Lynn.JPG)
This house was attached to St Nicholas's church. The position of Exorcist in olden times was one which a Catholic priest could hold as he progressed up the church career ladder. It has a reputation of being haunted. It is believed that a previous occupant dabbled in the black arts here. It is also the former residence of author and broadcaster
Frederick Robert Buckley
Frederick Robert Buckley (1896–1976), better known as F. R. Buckley, was an English writer. He wrote more than 200 short stories for pulp magazines between 1918 and 1953. He was born on 20 December 1896 in Colton, Staffordshire, England, and ...
Jewish cemetery
![Jewish cemetery, KIngs Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Jewish_cemetery%2C_KIngs_Lynn.JPG)
The Jewish Community in King's Lynn was founded in about 1740, but ceased to exist by the middle of the nineteenth century, although it was briefly revived during World War II.
Grade I listed buildings
* Guildhall of St George
* Nos 28,30,32 King St
*
Thoresby College
Thoresby College (also Trinity College) was a 16th-century collegiate-style residence for thirteen chantry priests in King's Lynn, Norfolk, East of England. Located on Queen Street opposite the King's Lynn Guildhall, Guildhall, it has been conve ...
*
Clifton House
Modern buildings
Vancouver Quarter
Vancouver Quarter (), also referred to as the Vancouver Shopping District, is the contemporary main shopping centre in King's Lynn. It was originally constructed to much controversy in the 1960s, as many people objected to the idea of a traditional market town having its historic centre pulled down and replaced with modern shops.
![2009-02-02-vancouver-quarter-kings-lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/2009-02-02-vancouver-quarter-kings-lynn.jpg)
In 2007, the shopping centre was rebranded 'The Vancouver Quarter' with a sign placed at the top of the circular building (currently
Costa
Costa may refer to:
Biology
* Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy
* Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus
* Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral
* Costa (entomology), the leading edge of th ...
); it was previously just referred to as the 'Vancouver Shopping Centre', the name Vancouver coming from the explorer
Captain George Vancouver
Captain George Vancouver (22 June 1757 – 10 May 1798) was a British Royal Navy officer best known for his 1791–1795 expedition, which explored and charted North America's northwestern Pacific Coast regions, including the coasts of what a ...
, who was born in the town.
Police Station
![kings lynn police station](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Kings_lynn_police_station.jpg)
The Police Station () is situated next to the Greyfriars Tower, near to the
Multi-storey car park
A multistorey car park (British and Singapore English) or parking garage (American English), also called a multistory, parking building, parking structure, parkade (mainly Canadian), parking ramp, parking deck or indoor parking, is a build ...
.
St. James Street Car Park
![St James's car park](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/St_James%27s_car_park.JPG)
Completed in 2005, the St. James Street Car Park () is the only multi-storey car park in the town. It was built in conjunction with the redevelopment of the Vancouver Shopping Centre. The car park was described as 'without compare' by Kevin Beresford, self-appointed head of the Car Park Appreciation Society, who awarded the car park as the best in Britain – claiming it was 'love at first site', citing praise: "It is spacious, well-lit and adorned with beautiful red brickwork, complemented by slinky silver vertical aluminium fins that create a rippling wave effect. However, these cosmetic fins are apt to cause problems in high winds.
Part of the reason the car park has received such praise for its aesthetics is the commitment by the council to ensure that none of the materials used in construction were downgraded to cheaper alternatives.
There are 700 car parking spaces on 4 levels, 4 pay points, two elevators and 3 staircases.
Post Office
The Central Post Office (), found on Baxter's Plain in King's Lynn, closed from public use in late September 2007. Customers wanting to send letters or parcels now have to go to a refurbished section of Lynn's
WHSmith
WHSmith (also written WH Smith, and known colloquially as Smith's and formerly as W. H. Smith & Son) is a British retailer, headquartered in Swindon, England, which operates a chain of high street, railway station, airport, port, hospital and m ...
branch on Norfolk Street. Incidentally, the oak panels lining the interior walls of this building were taken from the old London bridge. The World War memorial plaque is now located in the Austin fields sorting office.
Industrial buildings
King's Lynn Power Station
King's Lynn Power Station () is located on Willows Business Park, Saddlebow, King's Lynn. The plant is Gas Fired which is supplied using gas from Transco's National Transmission System. Construction of the power station began in October 1994 and was completed and started producing electricity in December 1997. The owners of the plant, TXU sold the plant to Centrica in October 2001.
Although popular belief is that the power station was built on the site of the old
Sugar Beet Factory the actual site is slightly south of where the plant was situated.
King's Lynn Docks
![Kings-lynn-docks](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Kings-lynn-docks.JPG)
Considered to be as important to England in medieval times as Liverpool was during the
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was the transition to new manufacturing processes in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, that occurred during the period from around 1760 to about 1820–1840. This transition included going f ...
, the port at King's Lynn has been fundamental to the town's economy as long as it has existed.
Originally, ships docked at the town near the Customs House, down past the quay near St Margaret's Church. However, with the development in ship design during the Industrial Revolution this was no longer adequate, and in the 19th century the
larger, more modern docks () were constructed. Whilst the surrounding structures and equipment are now obviously more modern, the docks themselves are still the same today.
The white tower, a grain silo, seen in the photograph is the tallest structure in King's Lynn and can be seen for miles.
Gaywood
Gaywood Clock
![Gaywood clock](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3c/Gaywood_clock.JPG)
A war memorial erected by the residents of Gaywood in 1920. It used to be located in the centre of the nearby road until being moved in 1990 to the paved area outside the former Clock Café.
Bishop's Terrace
![Bishop's Terrace, Gaywood - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Bishop%27s_Terrace%2C_Gaywood_-_geograph.org.uk_-_453981.jpg)
Grade II listed 16th-century building tastefully converted into shop units. Many people miss this building on their rush to get somewhere else. Oak beams are on display in many of the shop units.
Gaywood Almshouses
![Gaywood almshouses](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Gaywood_almshouses.JPG)
These almshouses are of 13th-century origin. Until comparatively recent times they were known as Gaywood Hospital. They were destroyed in the Siege of Lynn in 1643, and rebuilt in 1649. The eight almshouses are arranged around a courtyard. They were restored in 1904, with further modernisation in 1965.
There is a well-known painting by Sir
George Clausen (1852 – 1944) of these almshouses from 1881.
Demolished buildings
The Pilot Cinema
![Pilot cinema](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Pilot_cinema.JPG)
The Pilot cinema on Pilot Street was built by local builder Ben Culey in 1938. It closed in 1983 and the last film shown according to local memory was ''Gandhi''. Since then it has been a roller skating rink, a garden centre and, lastly, Zoots nightclub which was refurbished at a cost of 2 million pounds before it reopened on 15 April 1999. It closed the doors for the final time on Saturday, 26 January 2008. Since then it has been left to become derelict.
In April 2014 the old pilot cinema was demolished to make way for a new housing development.
Campbell's Soup Tower (1959–2012)
![Campbells Soup Tower before demolition](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ac/Campbells_Soup_Tower_before_demolition.jpg)
In a low-rise market town, the vertical addition of the
Campbell's
Campbell Soup Company, doing business as Campbell's, is an American processed food and snack company. The company is most closely associated with its flagship canned soup products; however, through mergers and acquisitions, it has grown to become ...
Soup Tower () in 1959 marked a radical departure from the norm. Due to the flat nature of
the Fens
The Fens, also known as the , in eastern England are a naturally marshy region supporting a rich ecology and numerous species. Most of the fens were drained centuries ago, resulting in a flat, dry, low-lying agricultural region supported by a ...
the building was visible for miles, much more prominently than any of the other tall buildings, mostly church towers, so it was often referred to as King's Lynn's 'Skyscraper'.
The tower was built as part of Campbell's international expansion. King's Lynn was chosen as a site due to the large local agricultural economy.
The building was situated on the town's largest commercial/industrial sector, the Hardwick Estate. It was the most noticeable part of the estate when driving past on the
A47 southern bypass.
The tower was demolished by a controlled explosion on 15 January 2012 to make way for a new
Tesco
Tesco plc () is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, England. In 2011 it was the third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues and the ninth-largest in th ...
superstore and outlet which opened in October 2013.
, BBC News
The Shambles
The Shambles (meat market downstairs and grammar school upstairs) once stood near the site of the Saturday market place until 1914, when it was demolished to enlarge the marketplace. Eugene Arram
taught in the grammar school here.
There are sealed off underground passages associated with this building that were allegedly used in WW2 as air raid shelters.
East Gate
![Eastgate drawing](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Eastgate_drawing.jpg)
Approximately 200 years prior to the erection of the
List of buildings in King's Lynn#South Gate, South Gate, there was another gate, the East Gate, situated on the borders of King's Lynn and
Gaywood.
The East Gate originally stood near what is now known as Dodman's Bridge, near the
College of West Anglia
The College of West Anglia (often abbreviated to CoWA or CWA) is a four-campus college of further and higher education in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, England. The college has three campuses, located in King's Lynn, Milton and Wisbech, Cambridges ...
. Also known as St. Catherine's Gate, it was demolished in 1800 because the low arch was a hindrance to traffic. The stone was taken to Hillington Hall and used in the construction of the main gate, while the coat of arms that formerly adorned the East Gate is now above the entrance to King's Lynn court house.
Reffley Temple
![Reffley temple](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f1/Reffley_temple.jpg)
The inscription above the door read: REFFLEY TEMPLE
Erected by a Friendly Society AD 1789
Enlarged AD 1841
The Brethren or Sons of Reffley were a secret society of Royalist sympathisers formed in 1650. In 1750–56 an obelisk dedicated to 'Bacchus and Venus'
was erected at the site of a chalybeate spring, the basin of which still exists, although damaged and dry. The Temple was built by the brethren as a rendezvous for social gatherings. In the 1980s the temple was vandalised and pulled down, the obelisk demolished, and the spring dried out. On one side of the obelisk was a curse, stating "Whosoever shall remove this or bid its removal, let him die the last of his race".
The Athenaeum
![Atheneum, Baxter's plain, KIngs Lynn](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Atheneum%2C_Baxter%27s_plain%2C_KIngs_Lynn.jpg)
The Athenaeum was built on Baxter's plain where the old post office now stands. It opened on 16 August 1854 with the aim of uniting the town's literary, artistic and scientific societies under a single roof. Unfortunately it was a commercial failure and a large part of the building was taken over by the government as a post office and telegraph station on 20 January 1883.
Gallery
The following are photographs of buildings not detailed above and minor details of buildings not warranting a paragraph themselves.
Image:St John's Church King's Lynn.JPG, St John's Church
Image:Guildhall King's Lynn.JPG, St George's Guildhall
Image:True's Yard King's Lynn.JPG, True's Yard Museum
Image:Granary King's Lynn.JPG, The Granaries
Image:King's Lynn Mart 2.jpg, Tuesday Market Place whilst the Mart is in town
File:Dedication window 1928.JPG, Stained glass 1928 dedication window above entrance to Majestic cinema
Image:Kingslynnfrontage.jpg, Railway Station
Image:Bagge_Mansion_King's_Lynn.JPG, Bagge Mansion
File:Demeter, Kings Lynn corn exchange.JPG, Statue of Demeter above Corn Exchange facade
File:080209 - kings lynn - 004.JPG, Hogge Mansion
Image:St Margaret's House King's Lynn.JPG, St Margaret's House
image:365504 at King's Lynn.jpg, Railway Station
File:Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, King's Lynn by N Chadwick geograph 6638177.jpg, Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, King's Lynn
Our Lady of the Annunciation Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. It was built in 1897, but incorporates parts of the former church on the same site that was built in 1845 and designed by Augustus Pugin. It i ...
References
External links
All Saints' Church websiteClifton House – A 13th-century merchant's houseThe homepage of St Margaret's ChurchRed Mount Chapel– visiting information
Custom House– visiting information
{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Buildings In King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn
King's Lynn, known until 1537 as Bishop's Lynn and colloquially as Lynn, is a port and market town in the borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the county of Norfolk, England. It is located north of London, north-east of Peterborough, no ...