King's Lynn - Norfolk From The Middle Ages Till Today

King's Lynn in Norfolk was known as Bishops Lynn prior to the 16th century - the word Lynn being derived from the word for a tidal pool. It was a port town and during the ages has been used to export different produce.

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.

In 1331 a severe fire affected the town and perhaps this would have been fine had it happened after the Black Death which was brought in by Sailors in 1348. But unfortunately things never happen this way. The Black Death was already sweeping Europe and had it not been for trading ties, Britain's may never have suffered this calamity. When it reached Kings Lynn it wiped out half the population. The last plague outbreak was in 1665 and thatched roofs were also banned in 1572.

Stone walls had been built to protect the town by the 13th century and in 1406 St Georges was built as the firs religious guildhall - this was converted into a theatre as late as the 20th century.

Kings Lynn while it was still Bishops Lynn was a magnet to religious guilds of all kinds and from 1500 to 1510 Thoresby College was built, which was their first religious guild, but the king took control of the town in 1537 and renamed it Kings Lynn. Guess who? Why Henry VIII of course! Priories, friaries and abbeys were closed.

As you can imagine, there is a good deal of very interesting historical aspect to be found in this town even today, and perhaps the most significant historical landmark is Greyfriars Tower.

This feature is the only surviving part of a magnificent Franciscan friary from medieval times. The tower was rapidly decaying in recent times until it found itself a finalist in the 2003 series of BBCs Restoration. This brought attention to the leaning tower as it is called and it has now been completely repaired.