Some of Our East Coast TownsRitchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
History
Some of Our East Coast Towns
Ritchie, J. Ewing (James Ewing)
East Anglia (England) -- Description and travel
ONE of the most curious corners of old England is known, and has been
known to the community for many years, as King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on the
borders of the Wash. It was a great place for traders. By means of it
in the olden time many a tun of good red wine came into the country, and
it is still a great place for trade, as it has fine docks, available to
steamers with a tonnage of 2,000 tons. Thus Lynn is a great port for the
landing of foreign sugar (which ought to be made at home) from Hamburg.
A hundred years ago its annual shipping revenue was only exceeded by the
ports of London, Liverpool, Bristol and Hull. It is also easily
available by means of railway communication, which renders it accessible
from all quarters—the Great Northern, the Midland, and the Great Eastern
all find their way to Lynn. The population has rather declined since the
last census; but still the town is a large one—upwards of 18,000 in
population—and one wonders how all the people hidden away in its shops
and narrow streets can manage to find a living. The fact is, it is the
centre of an enormous agricultural district, and thus twice a week has a
large extra population, drawn thither by the attractions of its Saturday
and Tuesday markets. There seems to be no great manufacturing industry,
the chief being that of Mr. Savage, who employs about three hundred
people, all engaged in the manufacture of various kinds of roundabouts
and steam velocipedes, such as are seen at our country fairs. It is the
most important business of the kind in the Eastern Counties, and of it
the people of the Town of Lynn are justly proud. Nevertheless, to most
of us the charm of Lynn is chiefly antiquarian. Its wonderful old
churches are well worth visiting. In the good old times Lynn was a
fortified town, and there are still abundant remains of the old walls, as
well as a handsome Gothic structure, known as the South-gate.
Unfortunately the East-gate, an equally fine specimen of ancient
architecture, was demolished in the first year of the present century.
In the centre of one of the public walks, well shaded by trees, which in
summer cast a grateful shade, stands an ancient chapel, known as the Red
Mount, a great resort for pilgrims. Stowe tells us it was in the reign
of King John that Lynn was fortified. The cup used by the Mayor on the
occasion of municipal festivities is said to have been the gift of that
monarch, as is likewise the sword usually borne before the Mayor. In the
Museum is preserved one of the old ducking stools, which have gone out of
fashion in consequence of the increasing good temper of the ladies in
these latter days. There is an immense deal to see in Lynn. I would
gladly have tarried there longer, especially as I obtained good quarters
at the Temperance Hotel, which seemed to be much patronised by commercial
men. I found many of them there after the day’s work was over, reading
one or other of the good books provided for them by the Christian
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account