King's Lynn: A Potted History by Paul Richards

King's Lynn: A Potted History by Paul Richards

From 1100 Lynn's prominence as an English port town depended on an extensive hinterland embraced by the Great Ouse river system. This privileged geographical position was reinforced by its location on England's east coast, facing Europe across the North Sea. The Wash haven experienced relative decline after 1750 due to the absence of an expanding industrial hinterland which boosted Hull and Newcastle. However, Lynn's international and coastal trades (grain, coal, timber and wine) remained considerable into the 19th century. Then the coming of the railways in the 1840s robbed the Norfolk town of its geographical advantages. It was rescued by the construction of two enclosed docks linked to the national railway network which sparked an industrial revolution led by engineering factories. Town population was growing by 1900 but Lynn's late Victorian economic growth was not sustained into the 1920s and 1930s. The Council sealed an overspill agreement with the Greater London Council in 1962 which heralded a second industrial revolution. Suburban industrial and housing estates were built, though parts of the historic town were also redeveloped. Yet Lynn retains an exceptional historic built environment which connects us with what was for centuries a premier English maritime community. Illustrated throughout, this accessible historical portrait of the transformation that King's Lynn has undergone through the ages will be of great interest to residents, visitors and all those with links to the town.

Paul Richards FSA, DL was born and bred in King's Lynn and studied for both BA and PhD degrees in History at Birmingham University followed by teacher training at Nottingham. Paul taught in further and higher education at the College of West Anglia. He has been a part-time tutor for the WEA, Open University and university extra departments. He was a borough councillor (King's Lynn and West Norfolk) and Mayor (1998-2000) before becoming an Honorary Alderman. His History of King's Lynn was published in 1990, and he has written articles on local and regional history for various publications. Amongst several other interests, he is a trustee of True's Yard Fisherfolk Museum, a member of the King's Lynn Festival board and a town guide.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781398119130
ISBN 10	139811913X
Title	King's Lynn: A Potted History
Author	Paul Richards
Series	A Potted History
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Amberley Publishing
Year published	2025-03-15
Number of pages	96
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.