CORN EXCHANGE.
This grade II listed facade of King`s Lynn Corn Exchange, originally built in 1854, is a testimony to the glory of Victorian Architecture. The statue above the magnificent facade is that of Demeter, Greek goddess of the harvest.
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GREYFRIARS TOWER.
The Greyfriars Tower is the only remaining part of the Franciscan Monastery on this site, and one of only three surviving Franciscan Monastery Towers in England and is considered to be the finest. It is grade I listed. Following the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII all such monasteries were demolished. The tower at Lynn remained because it was considered to be a useful seamark by sailors entering the town.
This plan shows what the Franciscan Monastery would have looked like before the Dissolution.
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PUBLIC LIBRARY.
The King`s Lynn Library was funded and opened by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The library is built on the site of the Greyfriars Monastery and sits adjacent to the remains of the tower. There is a ghostly Monk who reputedly haunts the library's cellar. The library is still in use today and is still the towns main library.
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RED MOUNT.
Sitting in the centre of the Walk`s, King`s Lynn main urban park is this beautiful chapel, also known as our Lady`s Chapel. It is a remarkable building in that it is completely unique and no other building like it can be found. It was built in the 15th century to contain a relic of the virgin, but was also used by pilgrims on their way to Walsingham. It was built by Robert Corraunce on instructions from the Prior of Lynn. The inner core is divided into three storeys and there is an additional cross-shaped aslar building in ancaster stone on top. It is a grade I listed building.
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THE LATTICE HOUSE.
This pub ( originally a 15th century house ) uses the name acquired in 1714 when this ancient building first became an inn. Previously it had been used for centuries by the clerks of the nearby chapel of St Nicholas ( I was going to take photos of St Nicholas Chapel but unfortunately it had scaffolding all around it, undergoing restoration work ). For many years it was called Ye Olde Lattice Inn, until its closure in 1919. It became a public house once again in 1982 and still is a public house to this day.
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TUDOR ROSE HOTEL.
Built around 1500 by a local merchant. The Tudor Rose is typical of almost all Medieval Merchant houses of King`s Lynn in being L shaped. Alterations date from the time of Elizabeth I, classical columns and a wooden canopy were added to the front door. The building was inherited by Thomas Snelling in 1623 from Mathew Clark who is believed to have carried out the remodelling work. A further extension, a modern brick townhouse was added in the 1640s. More alterations were made in Victorian times and in the 1970s the Tudor Rose was saved from decay by the borough council and restored as a hotel and inn. It is one of the most fascinating buildings in Lynn and has the oldest working door in King`s Lynn. A darker more mysterious side to the hotel is that it is the most haunted place in King`s Lynn with a number of ghosts. The hotspots are the restaurant , the back bar and room number seven. One named ghost is the grey lady who haunts the restaurant, rumour has it that she was killed by her newly wed husband. This hotel building is situated near the Tuesday Market Place, as well as being famous for its market and a fair every year, the market place was also the place for public executions and the burning and hanging of witches. One story that has been told in Lynn for many years is the story of a hanging of a witch where her heart burst out of her body onto a building facing the square now in St Nicholas street. Today there is a carved sign in the square in the shape of a heart which represents where the so called witches heart landed on the wall.
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GUANNOCK GATE.
The Guannock Gate was originally part of the towns defences. Guannock is the name for the bank which formed part of these defences.
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St JOHNS CHURCH.
St Johns cost £5,000 to build and is constructed of Yorkshire stone brought up river by boat. It was meant to seat over one thousand poor people with no class barriers.
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WAR MEMORIAL.
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THE VANCOUVER GARDEN ORNAMENTAL BANDSTAND.
This bandstand is situated in a 1920s garden. This garden is named after George Vancouver a sailor and explorer born in Lynn in 1757. He sailed with Captain Cook and during his own great voyage ( 1791-95 ) established British Interests in North West America, where he is remembered by Vancouver City and Vancouver Island in Canada and the town of Vancouver in Washington State, USA.
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I had heard of Greyfriar’s somewhere in the past. Can’t remember from what, but just that I had. And, I am sure it’s the same place because what I had heard of was called Greyfriar’s Abbey. That Corn Exchange building looks neat. I like it. But, the Tower does it for me. Just majestic looking even in the state that it is in. I must say leave it to Carnegie to build a library there. He was big on libraries and education. The Red Mount is unique for sure. Am I wrong or does it have 8 sides? The Tudor Rose house is really nice and friendly looking. St. John’s must be one big church to hold that many folks in it. The bandstand looks like it would be a comfortable and pretty place to go visit. Great photos my friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Dave yes Red Mount is octagonal. St Johns Church is really big it don't look big from the front but it goes back quite away. The tower was once leaning as much as the leaning tower of Pisa but for safety reasons they had it straightened up. Thank you for your comments they really are appreciated.
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