Stories of Lynn

Museum and Gaol House at King's Lynn's historic Saturday Market Place. Tweet us 9-5 Mon-Fri

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Following the 1897 fire at Jermyn’s department store, site of the empty Debenhams, one of the Borough Surveyors recommendations was to widen the street so fire could not spread to the buildings on the other side again. This was accepted resulting in the current wider section

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

The Borough Archives are now closed for Christmas and New Year. They will reopen as normal on Thursday 2nd January.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Thomas Paine is described as a Gingerbread baker in one of the recently listed enrolled deeds, a release for 8 High Street. We can find his Freeman entry which he gained via apprenticeship to John Paine, cordwainer and gingerbread baker, an unusual mix of trades.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

#otd 1875 It was agreed to open a fund to pay for trees to line the Tuesday Market Place. They can still be seen on old maps of the town, 18 appear in the 1886 1:250 scale OS map.

[Hayley Simmons @HM_Simmons]

We had a jolly Tudor Christmas with a local school group at @Lynn_Museum and @storiesoflynn today!
With me the children explored Tudor household objects and made gingerbread bites from a 14th century recipe - yummy! 🫚

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Thomas Trummel was killed protecting the Charming Sally from privateers near Antigua #otd 1759. This document is from the Port Trust where his widow Margaret claimed financial aid in June 1760. She was given a pension of 2 shillings a month until she remarried in 1763 @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

These are the building control plans for an alteration of St James’ Cinema dating from November 1933. It added a new entrance foyer and two dances rooms. It wouldn't last long as the cinema burnt down in February 1937 and was not replaced @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Chief Constable Ware asked for the resignation of constable John Rennison, describing him as unsatisfactory and unfitting for the post. He had been recruited on 6th Nov, asked to resign on the 9th, the committee was told on the 15th. He is the shortest serving officer.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

For Remembrance Sunday we look at the book plates of the two Rolls of Honour the town produced. The First World War book was started in 1921 and presented to the town in 1923. The Second World War book was started in 1946 and presented in 1950.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

This table of crimes during 1875 was created for the Chief Constable’s report to the Watch Committee. It details types of crime, if committed by men or women, and if they were discharged or convicted. This level of detail can only be seen in the reports for 1874-5 @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

October 1557 saw the Letters Patent of Philip and Mary grant the annexation of South Lynn in perpetuity, rather than just under royal pleasure as had been granted in February 1555 @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

John Fuller was awarded £1,1s #OTD 1757 by the Seamans Trust to help his recovery after he had his foot cut through by a falling cask of pitch while sailing on board the Jason @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

These plans are for the Ritz Cinema from 1938. Building work hadn’t started before World War II and when the developers applied for permission again in 1949 they were refused. Norfolk County Council had chosen the site for the new police station @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

It was ordered #otd 1699 that the Hall Books with torn covers and poor binding were to be rebound. The man suggested to undertake the work was called Vinard. Rather unusually, he was in the common gaol at the time, possibly for debt.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

A feast was provided for Cardinal Wolsey and his entourage when they arrived in Gaywood #otd in 1520. It features a lot of wine a beer and some unusual food items including bitterns, spoonbills and cygnets.

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

These seals are part of a feoffment, a type of deed, by John Sturges with others to John Vaux and William and Robert Amfles. The images are of a Mermaid, deer and lion @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

These Letters Patent from Queen Elizabeth I restore one of the two annual fairs in King’s Lynn after both had been repealed by an Act of Parliament. The February fair was allowed to continue, we know it as the Mart, but the August fair never returned @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

It is the 500th year anniversary of these Letters Patent granted #otd in 1524 by Henry VIII. They granted the Borough a new constitution which would last until 1834. It is finely illuminated with a portrait of young Henry in the initial @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Did you know there were two police forces in King’s Lynn between 1836 and 1848? The day force and the night force operated with their own constables and superintendent. In June 1848 it was decided to amalgamate the two @NorfolkRO

[Stories of Lynn @storiesoflynn]

Plans for a new cinema on London Road/Providence Street in an Art Deco style were submitted in 1939. It was to partner the Pilot Street cinema as was ordered by B.G. Culey and designed by Keeble and Courtney. It was never built due to the outbreak of WWII @NorfolkRO