Hanseatic city of King's Lynn

King's Lynn

The Hanseatic town of King’s Lynn was one of England’s most important ports from as early as the 12th century and this maritime past is still very much in evidence today. Fine old merchants’ houses stretch down to the river between cobbled lanes and the elegant Custom House overlooks the harbour.

German merchants from the Baltic and Hamburg secured trading privileges at Lynn in 1271 and these were confirmed in 1310. Herring, timber, wax, iron and pitch were imported into England via Lynn in Hanseatic ships. Wool, skins, cloth and lead were commodities taken back to Danzig and other German harbours.