This fascinating town
originally developed as a seaport and was known as
Bishop’s Lynn until Henry V111 changed its name
during the dissolution of the monasteries in the
16th century. Its buildings largely
reflect its seafaring wealth amassed in particular
during the 14th and 17th
centuries.
It has two guildhalls, one of
which is the flint town hall built around 1420.
The oldest surviving guildhall in England, it has
a Great Hall that measures 100ft in length.
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Within this remarkable
building are some of the finest treasures in
Britain, including the 700-year-old silver and
enamel King John Cup, one of oldest paper
books in existence and the King John Sword.
Lynn Museum has information on the geology,
archaeology and natural history of the area as
well as Bronze Age weapons, while the Town
Museum of Lynn Life offers displays of
costumes and toys along with a reconstructed
Victorian kitchen.
The 12th century Church of
St Margaret was once part of a Benedictine
monastery.
Special places of interest
include the Old Gaol House, which illustrates
the deprivations of prison life in the 18th
century, and the medieval merchant’s house
Hampton Court. Clifton House is another
ancient merchant’s house with a garden.
The Red Mount at King's
Lynn, also known as the Chapel of Our Lady
of the Mount was a place of pilgrimage. It was
built in the reign of Richard III (1483-85) by
Robert Curraunt. It is in "The Walks" park in
King's Lynn |
The Red Mount - Photo:
Rob Farrow
CCL |
Caithness Crystal Factory
offers demonstrations of glass making and has a
resident engraver.
Nearby is the Palladian
Houghton Hall built in the early 18th
century for Robert Walpole, England’s first prime
Minister. Now owned by the 6th Marquis
Hugh, Lord Great Chamberlain to the Queen, it
contains a remarkable collection of 20,000 model
soldiers.
