Some of our East Coast Towns

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 Commercial Travellers' Society, a society which does much good in many ways. Lynn has a good hospital and a fine library.