Civil War and polite society at Lynn Museum

On 28 August 1643, the siege of Lynn began. The town had declared its allegiance to King Charles I and, as a result, Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentary forces besieged the town for three weeks.

Some of the defensive walls and ditches can still be seen to this day.  The water supply was cut off and a cannonball was fired through the west window of St. Margaret's Church.  On 15 September the town surrendered, and the Royalist governor was replaced by Oliver Cromwell's brother-in-law, Colonel Valentine Walton.  On display is part of the Dersingham Hoard,129 silver shilling coins found in the bowl of a silver cup, thought to be hidden during the Civil War- as well as other items dating from this era.

As the country recovered from civil disturbances, the social activities of the merchant families had a marked influence on the town.  The Trinity Guildhall was extended by the building of new Assembly Rooms in 1766, consisting of an elegant ball room and card-room.

The distinguished organist Charles Burney was brought from London to fulfil the position of church organist in St. Margaret's Church.  His daughter, Fanny Burney was one of the celebrated writers of the age.  An ornate chatelaine and pocket watch, gifted to Fanny by Queen Charlotte in 1791 is on display.

The  St. George's Guildhall was adapted to provide a theatre for amateur and professional productions.  Many in King's Lynn society prospered and, in 1764, at least 85 alehouses were known to exist in the town - with the landscape painting 'Norwich Stagecoach at King's Lynn' by James Sillett (1764-1840) depicting the town beautifully.