Chance to go behind Lynn's historic facades
Visitors are being offered the chance to take a free look behind the doors of 26 of Lynn's best-known buildings and historic landmarks this Sunday.
See also - Discover Robinson Crusoe's grave
Three new attractions – the Jewish Cemetery, London Road Methodist Chapel and 11 to 13 King Street, the first home of West Norfolk High School for Girls – are included in this year's Heritage Open Day.
Borough Mayor Kathy Mellish will be "at home" in the Town Hall and Guildhall to play her part in giving people a unique insight into the colourful history of the town.
And English Heritage chief executive Dr Simon Thurley, who has become a Lynn resident, is encouraging people to make the most of the opportunity, as he opens up his own home, Clifton House in Queen Street.
He says: "Heritage Open Day this year is set to be even bigger than last year, so even if you are a regular Heritage Open Day-goer there will be something new for you to see and do."
Once again, a red open-top London bus will be touring all the buildings, 4 adults all day, children free. It will continuously circle a route from the Vancouver Centre bus station to West Lynn ferry station, so people can leave their cars behind.
The ferry will also be operating from 9am to 5pm on Sunday, 60p adults, 40p children each way.
The open day is being organised by Lynn Civic Society, supported by Lynn Preservation Trust, West Norfolk Council, the Blue Badge town guides and local businesses and private owners.
It is all done under the auspices of the Civic Trust, which organises the event on a national level with English Heritage support.
Details of all the venues and a map are available in a Heritage Open Day booklet available at the Tourist Information Centre in the Custom House.
Refreshments and snacks will be served at St Margaret's Church, All Saints' Church, The Green Quay and True's Yard Fishing Museum.
Buildings open between 10am and 4pm unless otherwise stated are:
South Gate, London Road: Three-storey, stone-fronted brick town gate with corner turrets and side passages. The earliest remaining parts are from the rebuilding of 1437, with the front added in 1520. A room upstairs still has a fireplace, privy hole and gun ports.
Hardwick Cemetery, Hardwick Road: (Guided walk at 2pm). Opened in 1856 when the Lynn churchyards were full, this Victorian cemetery was one of the first municipal burial grounds in the country. Famous engineer Frederick Savage was buried here and it has a boat-shaped monument marking the spot where five Scottish fishermen who drowned on the Beautiful Star are buried.
All Saints' Church, Hillington Square: (Open on Saturday and 11.30am to 5pm on Sunday – antiques and collectables fair). Almost certainly the first church in the town. The date of its foundation is not known, although early parts are Norman. There is a screen with six apostles, and another Jacobean example was brought from West Lynn. See the Vancouver entry in the parish register on loan from the National Register Office.
Jewish Cemetery, Millfleet: A little brick compound, next to Hillington Square, with 16th century brick in some walls and headstones dated 1811 to 1846. Its original function is not known.
Greyfriars Tower, St James Street: This impressive tower has been completely restored and its gardens remodelled to show the extent of the 14th century Franciscan friary, following a 1.3 million makeover thanks to money raised from its appearance on the BBC's Restoration programme in 2003.
London Road Methodist Chapel: (Noon to 4pm). Dated 1858-59 and built in the Italianate fashion of the time, it has a brick facade, round-arched windows in three bays and the centre bay projecting. Inside is a gallery on iron columns.
Majestic Cinema, Tower Street: (10am to 12.30pm). A fine original cinema built in 1928 with great attention to detail in art deco style. Stained-glass windows and wonderful plasterwork on the ceilings which you never see in the dark.
Lynn Museum, Market Street: (Children's activities). Built as the Union Baptist Chapel in 1859, this Italian gothic building in two colours of brick with a tower and short spire has been the town museum since 1904. At present, only the gallery in the 1867 school room is open with The Changing Face of Lynn exhibition.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
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