Choosing a Subject (M6; Chpt 1)

Under normal circumstances choosing a subject for this final module would not have been an issue at all. I would have made the journey over to Castle Acre and worked on themes relating to the Priory there; a victim of the dissolution of the monasteries. However as we are still firmly in the highest possible Covid related lockdown and unlikely to be allowed out of town until April, I have had to re-think my plans for this module.

I'm aware that I've not looked at certain themes in any module to date, which has been an omission on my part. To date, I've completely ignored the subject of architecture. Looking forward to chapter 3, pen and ink, I can see it would certainly be a subject that lends itself well to that kind of treatment. Fortunately living in a rather historic town, there are plenty of buildings from the Medieval period through the eighteenth century and of course beyond. There are some beautiful doors and intricate stonework details. I would like to look at some of these, and have an idea they might make an interesting book.

In order not to ignore the possibilities offered by nature, there is also a large park, called the Walks, that has tree lined walks, historical monuments and plenty of water and of course people, crowds, as covered in module 5. 

King's Lynn is a rather over looked place half way between Norwich and Cambridge. Along with both of those towns it has a long and interesting history. Present at the time of the Doomsday book, the Normans quickly realised the value of the site as an access port, and used the town as a place to bring in and store goods, especially wine, for the rapidly developing Norman Ascendancy and castle builders in this part of the East of England and beyond. The town was a financial success during the Middle Ages becoming the fifth richest town in England, and a member of the Hanseatic League. The town remained an important access point for the whole of the East of England, in the Eighteenth century. Through a system of well dredged rivers and dykes, goods could be transported from the docks in Lynn to Cambridge and surrounding area. More recently the town has become a centre for the rapid processing of fresh goods and is still a transport hub for the area with excellent public transport facilities.

Medieval Lynn.

One of a number of historic streets in the old town. We looked to buy a house here when we came at first but had dogs and children and so decided on a Victorian house with a large garden instead. Fortunately we did, the old town has flood gates that are regularly called into action.

 The Guild Hall

Doorways

The Customs House

As befitted a successful port town, the Custom's house is an elegant eighteenth century building. Now it's the local tourist office.

There are a large number of other interesting buildings and houses in the town.

The Walks.

I took these photographs on the first sunny day of January. The light was harsh and unflattering and nothing really looks good in the January light - except for snow. The rain has been almost over whelming here this winter and the park was very flooded; however the partially submerged trees gave some fantastic reflections:

Claire Gordon

January 2021