When I went to Lynn on an old diesel unit back in May – see the blog – the Minster was nice, but I wasn’t particularly impressed with the town. When we came while on holiday in July we did the shops, and were un-impressed. We are on holiday nearby again, and when I searched the Heritage Open Days website I was amazed how much seemed to be going on in King’s Lynn (especially in comparison with Derby).
On Sunday 16 September we drove into town, walked down to the area by the Minster and found a food fayre and a lot of people.
First stop was Stories of Lynn, a good exhibition about the life of the town. There was a good exhibition about Norfolk Women Workers in WW1, put together by the archive service. Details here. Next door the Town Hall did not have welcoming staff – we were ignored – so we came back out. Then to TS Vancouver, nothing really accessible. We walked up the Quayside and watched the end of the East Norfolk Militia demonstration by the Custom House, 1685 by Henry Bell. Julie asked the lady in the tourist office on the ground floor if there was anything about Fanny Burney. “No” she was told. I went upstairs and had a quick look. Back downstairs, and Julie pointed out a display about Fanny Burney, 10 yards from where the lady was standing.
We continued north and called into St George’s Yard where there were art activities, loos, and exhibition in the Fermoy Art Gallery. Then the Guildhall Theatre, the original guildhall dates to 1420, a scissor-braced roof of 61 trusses. There was a Classic Car Day on the Tuesday Market – not really my thing, but the place was buzzing. St Nicholas’ Chapel is stunning – that’s the next blog. We returned south, and I stopped the Mayor to tell him how wonderful HODs are in his town. We went into Wilko’s to get a few things, and the lass on the till told me how busy the town was. Here is Heritage working for the economic good of the town. On to St John the Evangelist, another blog, then to All Saints’, another blog. Back to the Minster, so let’s add to the blog I did last May.
The entrance to the West Door is looking gorgeous – thank you gardeners.
The pine chest, with a lime lid, is Hanseatic, made in Gdansk in Poland from 1420, used by churches for the storage of valuables. Last time I visited I photoed it with the lid closed.
The glazed screen at the North Porch is by Geoffrey Clark, dates from 1967.
When I came in May they had the builders in and the organ was under wraps. It is by Snetzler, dates to 1754, and has 682 pipes. The case is by Wordsworth of 1895.
The Chancel looks good now the builders have gone, a rather stunning reredos by G.F. Bodley (1899), and the eagle lectern is C15. I like the altar frontal.
Some interesting paintings and carvings – they need to be better displayed.
A lovely chair, and you look up at the ceiling – and step back and look at the longer view.
Last time I missed the C14 misericords. I’ll blame the builders. They are rather wonderful.
