DESTINATIONS UK
KING'S LYNN, NORFOLK
Celebrating 800 years of history
and heritage
Visitors to King’s Lynn
, the major town at the heart of
West Norfolk, will discover a town rich in heritage and
maritime history. The history of the town, coupled with the
impressive Norfolk coastline, (much of it an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty) and the intrinsic charm of the
surrounding countryside and pretty villages, makes it a great
place to visit.
The town has recently
celebrated a special milestone in its history with the 800th
anniversary of the signing the King John Charter. It was this
charter that granted Lynn its borough status, giving it self
governing powers – which all reflected the town’s importance
as a key trading centre.
King’s Lynn was one of
England’s foremost ports as early as the 12th century, and
was perhaps as important in the Middle Ages as Liverpool was to become during the Industrial Revolution. Aptly described as ‘The
Warehouse on the Wash’
it maintained its prominence as a port until the railways
robbed it of much of its traffic in the mid
19th century.
Originally known as `Linn’, the town is thought to have
derived its name from the Celtic word for a lake or pool, and
it is recorded that a large tidal lake originally covered this
area. By the early 13th century with the granting
of the charter, the town became Bishop’s Lynn.
Bishop's
Lynn grew rich on trade both with Britain and abroad. The Hanseatic League, a powerful German trading organisation made
up of merchants from North Germany and neighbouring countries
around the
Baltic Sea contributed greatly to this prosperity. The legacy of this history is
still very much in evidence today. Fine late medieval
merchants houses stretch back to the river between cobbled
lanes.
After the
dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII, Lynn changed its
name to Lynn Regis - subsequently
King’s Lynn, the name it has retained to this day.
The
Custom House overlooks the Purfleet, which was one of four
fleets of Lynn and the medieval harbour of the town. The
magnificent 12th century St Margaret’s Church overlooks some
of the finest ancient architecture in England, including the
Trinity Guildhall built in the 1420’s. The Tuesday Market
Place, one of England’s grandest squares, houses the Corn
Exchange, a 750-seater venue for concerts, comedy and flea
markets.
One of
Lynn’s most notable and unusual landmarks Greyfriars Tower is in the processes of being restored,
the work is due for completion in the autumn of 2005.
The Lynn Museum sited close to the town
centre is currently being refurbished and is scheduled to
re-open in early 2006, amongst the new displays planned will
be part of the 4,000 year-old Holme timber circle, popularly
known as "Seahenge".
The
historic Saturday Market Place and magnificent Tuesday Market
Place are hosts to traditional outdoor markets, which have
been a feature of Lynn life for hundreds of years with stalls
selling shellfish caught by Lynn fishing fleet, as well as
locally grown farm produce from the fertile Fens.
So much of King’s Lynn's heritage is linked to its maritime heritage and links as a trading
centre. True’s Yard
Fishing Heritage Museum, The Green Quay – Wash Discovery
Centre, The Custom House Tourist Information Centre and
Maritime Exhibition, Town House Museum all tell a part of this
story. Visitors can follow the King’s Lynn Maritime trail, described and interpreted in a leaflet by the same
name, which highlights a total of 25 locations each of which
tell a part of the heritage story.
Other places to visit include
Tales of the Old Gaol House where the stories of local
witches, murderers and highwaymen are recreated in original 18th
and 19th century cells. The visit includes the
opportunity to enter the Regalia Rooms where historic town
artefacts including the priceless ‘King John Cup’ are
displayed. Nearby the Town House museum tells more of the
story of Lynn. On the edge of town and easily accessible from
the A47 is Caithness Crystal where visitors can watch the
centuries old craft of glass making at close quarters.
To find out more about a visit
to King’s Lynn visit
www.visitwestnorfolk.com or contact the Tourist
Information Centre on 01553 763044 for a copy of the West
Norfolk Holiday Guide 2005.
All photographs
courtesy of Borough Council of Kings Lynn & West Norfolk
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