King's Lynn - Norfolk From The Middle Ages Till Today
Written by: Frederick Hoymer.
Total views: 1 |
Word Count: 453 |
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2010 |
0 comments
Norfolk is the beautiful county which is home to King's Lynn, once named Bishops Lynn until Henry VIII renamed it for himself. Lynn is a word from medieval English, and it is used to describe a tidal pool, which is the Oust at Kings Lynn, so this is actually both a port and a market town.
Founded in 1095, where a settlement grew up around a Benedictine Abbey, this area was part of an estate owned by one Bishop De Losinga. Rights to hold markets were granted in 1101 and this charming Norfolk Town is still a market town today. Starting on Valentines Day a great fair is still held for two weeks.
In the 12th Century Bishop Turbus a church was erected in the honor of the patron saint of sailors, St. Nicholas, and Kings Lynngrew to become a large and very important town with a population of around 5 500 residents. Salt, wool and grain were exported from this port, while timber, pitch iron and fish came in from Scandinavia by sea and this may have proved its downfall.
Fire was always a problem in medieval times as most of the buildings were wood and in 1331 a terrible fire almost destroyed the town. Not long after in 1348, the Black Death came and decimated the population by half. For three centuries the plague came and went, finally ending in 1665, and fires were also always a problem, but in 1572, thatched roofs were banned in Kings Lynn.
Guild halls were built for trades people and religious followers and by the 13th century the town was protected by stone built walls. In 1406 the guildhall, St. Georges, was built and this still stands, it was renovated and made into a theatre in the 20th century.
While it was till Bishops Lynn this town was a magnet for religious orders and the first religious guild building built was Thoresby College. It took ten years to build and building commenced in 1500. In 1537, no religious order was safe any longer with Henry VIII on the throne. Henry took over this town also, renaming it Kings Lynn and closing abbeys, friaries and priories.
One of the most significant landmarks of this town is the Greyfriars Tower. This is a piece of the religious history of Kings Lynn. It is remarkable in that wear and subsidence have made the tower lean.
This tower is the only part left surviving of a medieval Franciscan priory, and is also known as the Leaning Tower. It was decaying at a very rapid rate due to weather and subsidence, but has been restored and stabilized. It also features in the BBC's series of important restorations.
About the Author
For accommodation in King's Lynn check this list of King's Lynn hotels.
Rating: Not yet rated