On Heritage

Arriving at my aunt’s for Sunday lunch (it was, as usual, an excellent meal), I saw on the table planning documents for various new developments. After talking about them with my aunt, and enjoying the aforementioned lunch, we set off on a walk to visit the site of the most significant proposal (because it is on the doorstep of St Nicholas’ Chapel) and see the area for ourselves, having already formed opinions about the proposed development by Freebridge Community Housing.

My own view as someone who always considers plans on their own merit and has no time for knee-jerk negativity over change (and will cite both the new jetty on the Great Ouse and the alterations to the Tuesday Market Place as unequivocal successes) was that although I would have preferred larger windows and lighter brickwork (the latter not possible because it as conservation area and the dark brickwork is already there), and could not fail to notice that the proposed living quarters were going to be a trifle “compact” I was prepared to forgive these failings. There were two huge positives, first and most important that the plans included secure places for bicycles (and there is a cycle route almost on their doorstep), and second that although the new view would not be of picture postcard quality, at least the hideous modern monstrosity in the background of the feature image would be obscured.

I have some excellent pictures to share with you as usual…

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Bug trapped in amber.
Bug trapped in amber.

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This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles - maybe an well?
This square manhole cover sits inside a circle of cobbles – maybe an well?

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This fine property is one of too many in central King's Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out.
This fine property is one of too many in central King’s Lynn that stands empty because the owners cannot be bothered to let them out.

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This property is reached via a cunningly disguised public right of way (and the company responsible wondered why there was concern over their plans for Devils Alley?!)
This property is reached via a cunningly disguised public right of way (and the company responsible wondered why there was concern over their plans for Devils Alley?!)

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An eight-legged friend
An eight-legged friend

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Spectacular show projected on to King’s Lynn Custom House

Taking an evening stroll yesterday I reached the lower Purfleet, near the end of my journey, and saw something being projected off the Custom House. I had arrived just as that show was ending, but moments later another started, and I watched transfixed from beginning to end. The photographs which follow reveal as much of the experience as I could capture…

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The signal that the new show was getting under way.
The signal that the new show was getting under way.

Farewell to Learning Works and King’s Lynn in the sun (still!)

My involvement with Learning Works came to a close today, two years and seven months after it started as a ten week work placement. The King’s Lynn centre is closing down, and it is purely for this reason that I shall no longer be attending. I have benefited hugely from my time at Learning Works, and without wishing to sound like the Hideous Hog, plenty of people who have passed through the King’s Lynn branch of Learning Works while I was there also benefited from my presence.

I have gained a new follower who by serendipity happens to live near Vancouver, British Columbia, so I have two sets of photos today, one my usual stuff, and the other a special “Vancouver Gallery” which I shall show first…

Vancouver plaque

A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue
A close up of the plaque at the base of the Vancouver statue

Vancouver's Birthplace Plaque

The feature image - the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
The feature image – the statue of Captain Vancouver that stands alongside the lower Purfleet.
Monkey Puzzzle
This araucaria is a prominent feature of the Vancouver Garden
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King's Lynn
The other bridge that connects the Vancouver Garden to the rest of King’s Lynn

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The rest of the images are my more usual fare for a non working day, although one other noted navigator features prominently, Nicholas of Lynn, who died in 1369, definitely sailed to Iceland and may have found his way to the Americas. Note: all claims of discovery of the Americas made on behalf of Europeans are bogus by definition – in human terms the Americas were discovered by the hardy folk who crossed to frozen Bering Strait from Asia into the Americas some 20,000 years ago – hence why I do not personally used discovered in the context of Friar Nicholas and has possible trip across the Atlantic.

Anyway, now for the rest of those photos…

Stoptober Post Office War Memorial Moorhen Swimming Moorhen ?????????? ??????????

LBJs
Little brown jobbies – normally very difficult to photograph

Little Brown Bird Mile Post Moorhen and drakes Swan on the Nar

I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation - the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
I was attempting to capture something else, failed, but got this picture by way of compensation – the sort of thing that might happen more often if the Rueful Rabbit took up photography!
Swan
But for the extra significance of Vancouver for this blog at this moment this would have been the feature image.

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Given how much wind we get in King's Lynn it makes sense to use it!
Given how much wind we get in King’s Lynn it makes sense to use it!

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Nicholas of Lynn - her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) - but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.
Nicholas of Lynn – her certainly DID NOT discover the Americas (see body text) – but he may just have been there over 120 years before Columbus.

Navigation circle 2

Of course I'm master of all I survey - I'm a CAT!
Of course I’m master of all I survey – I’m a CAT!

Sunday

Following a nice Sunday morning walk which yielded some fine pictures I called at my Aunt’s house, ready for the journey to East Rudham for Sunday lunch. Edward (her youngest), was there with his girlfriend Rachel, and owing to the necessity of waiting for the drying cycle to finish on the washing machine we had a little time to kill.

Helen showed the quilt she has been constructing for her middle son Charles in its full glory – it is mighty impressive.

Sunday lunch was as usual magificent, and afterwards my mother and I went apple picking at Sandringham before she dropped me back in King;s Lynn.

Enjoy some splendid pictures…

Bunker Moorhen and lilies

Moorhen
Probably the best moorhen picture I have yet taken
Two moorhens
To get two moorhens in one shot is something of a rarity.
Snail on a footpath
Given the location of this footpath it was surprising and pleasing to note that this snail was undamaged.
These birds were on the grass near Lynn Sport - evidently they have no problem with people.
These birds were on the grass near Lynn Sport – evidently they have no problem with people.

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It was windy down by the river.
It was windy down by the river.

Rough water on the Great Ouse (2)

I first came across these owls as lot 73 in James and Sons sale, and they now adorn a wooden bookself in my Aunt's house
I first came across these owls as lot 73 in James and Sons sale, and they now adorn a wooden bookself in my Aunt’s house
This is the quilt mentioned in the body text - spectacular!
This is the quilt mentioned in the body text – spectacular!
This is a close up of one part of the quilt.
This is a close up of one part of the quilt.
This view arose after we had finished picking apples.
This view arose after we had finished picking apples.

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The Monday After Heritage Open Day and a Day Working on the Database

After an early finish at Learning Works due to there not being anything for me to do (that centre is closing due to not getting a contract they needed to get to stay open, so I have one more week there) I spent much of yesterday completing my series of posts (12 in all) about Heritage Open Day, while listening to county cricket coverage on the radio.

In the early evening I went out for a walk and as usual took lots of interesting photos, which is where pretty much all of todays pictures come from.

I have spent today hard at work on the database at James and Sons, with occasional restorative breaks checking out the twitter feed for the Great Centenary Charity Auction. A reminder here that as well as the twitter feed we have a website and a facebook page. While on twitter, I came across

Enjoy a crop of fine photos…

I am using this for the final time - my copy in its econiche!
I am using this for the final time – my copy in its econiche!
Assembled boxes
Assembled boxes
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way
And not long later, disassembled boxes, as all bar a few had to be flat packed way

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Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!
Even this late in the year private boats are still using the jetty!

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Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King's Lynn
Probably this years last sightings of the Birdman of King’s Lynn

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The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!
The light may not be needed at this time of the evening but this lamp post still finds a use!

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Bushy-tailed Rat
This is the wrong kind of squirrel – to help the right kind of squirrel visit: voteforbob.co.uk

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This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture
This was to have been just the weathervane on top of the Custom House until I saw that the flag was also in shot and did not spoil the picture

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The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.
The Lynn Ferry lying (temporarily) idle.

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More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
More fiery colours of an early evening in Lynn!
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yetserday
The last hints of sunlight in Lynn yesterday

Heritage Open Day 11: 25 King Street

This was my last port of call of the day. King Street runs from the Tuesday Market Place to the Purfleet, after which it becomes Queen Street until it reaches the Saturday Market Place. My flat is between the Purfleet and the Saturday Market Place, which makes King Street a thoroughly logical end point.

Number 25, a solicitor’s practice, features many points of interest, not least various parts of a reproduction Bayeux Tapestry. One more post will conclude this series, and in the meantime enjoy these pictures…

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Would this wood burner generate enough heat for the space? You betcha!
Would this wood burner generate enough heat for the space? You betcha!

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Heritage Open Day 10: 11 King Street

Back in town centre having completed my circuit,a couple of properties on King Street that were open for viewing took my fancy, and this one was the first of them. One of its incarnations has been as an accountancy practice, hence the boardroom you will see.

My next post will feature 25 King Street, a solicitor’s practice with more than a few points of interest, but for now enjoy these photos…

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The patterning of this window intrigued me to the extent that I photographed it and took individual pics of each style of pane.
The patterning of this window intrigued me to the extent that I photographed it and took individual pics of each style of pane.

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Heritage Open Day 10: 11 King Street

Back in town centre having completed my circuit,a couple of properties on King Street that were open for viewing took my fancy, and this one was the first of them. One of its incarnations has been as an accountancy practice, hence the boardroom you will see.

My next post will feature 25 King Street, a solicitor’s practice with more than a few points of interest, but for now enjoy these photos…

Boardroom ??????????

The patterning of this window intrigued me to the extent that I photographed it and took individual pics of each style of pane.
The patterning of this window intrigued me to the extent that I photographed it and took individual pics of each style of pane.

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Heritage Open Day 9: The Red Mount Chapel

From the South Gate (see previous post) I headed into the parkland area by the route that got me more park and less road than any other and made way way to the Chapel of Our Lady of The Mount, also known as the Red Mount Chapel. Unlike the South Gate I had been in this building before, but it was still breathtaking. One starts at the bottom and works ones way up (a minor casualty of the popularity of the day – less freedom to do things in ones own way). To show what the windows might have looked liked before the stained glass was broken, one window has been remade in stained glass and looks remarkably good.

King’s Lynn is home to many religious buildings and was once home to more (indeed the town was called Bishop’s Lynn until Henry VIII “suggested” that a name change was in order), but even in the context of a town that is overstocked with this type of building this place is special. If you ever get the opportunity to see the inside take it.

My next post will feature 11 King Street, and in the meantime enjoy these…

The chapel from the outside

The park as viewed from the chapel
The park as viewed from the chapel

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Who says graffiti is anything new?!
Who says graffiti is anything new?!

Butterflies in the window Window Altar ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

A side room on a mezzanine level
A side room on a mezzanine level

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Heritage Open Day 5: Out and about in Lynn on the big day

The combination of the fact that King’s Lynn is not huge and that I live plumb in the centre of it meant that for me at least my sole method of locomotion would be Shanks’ Pony. Some of the things that I saw while walking between official sites could have been seen on any day, others only this day but the picture of the day (pardon the pun) would be incomplete without reference to the in-between bits as the whole town was decked out for the day – and the weather gods lent their support by providing a lovely warm day for the occasion.

In terms of distances of greater than a few yards my itinerary was planned (with scenic routes taking priority at every turn) as follows: Flat – Tuesday Market Place – Great Ouse – Southgates via Hardings Pits – Red Mount Chapel via parkland – Flat and with the addition at the end of a couple of places on King Street which looked interesting that is the route I followed. Not many others opted for scenic routes – I was all but alone for the walk to Southgates.

My next post takes you underground once more, to the cellars of the Bank Hotel, before resurfacing for the rest of the journey – meantime enjoy an eclectic collection of pictures…

No - I did not drink from this barrel!
No – I did not drink from this barrel!
This longboat was an inventive idea.
This longboat was an inventive idea.
This plaque is on a stretch of road I do not usually walk down
This plaque is on a stretch of road I do not usually walk down

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These birds are not among the kinds I usually see here at the Nar Outflow
These birds are not among the kinds I usually see here at the Nar Outflow

Sea Scouts building

Bus
I travel in so many buses that not even a free ride tempted me to actually board this one!
Ferry
To adapt a Sherlock Holmes line seeing the Lynn Ferry travel in this direction is like seeing a tram on a country lane!
The statue atop the Bank Hotel
The statue atop the Bank Hotel

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Boats of this sort are not common on the Great Ouse
Boats of this sort are not common on the Great Ouse