Civic Society volunteers first drew up a long list of structures lying outside of the town conservation areas but considered to be of heritage interest within criteria set out by Historic England. Criteria include age, rarity, aesthetic interest, group value, archaeological, archival or historical associations, landscape setting, landmark status or social and community value. The draft assessment was then assessed by a panel of local experts – who whittled it down to the current list.
The panel included:
John Selby, initial advisor to the project
Nicholas Balaam, Heritage Management Consultant
Roger Edwards, architect (retired)
Dr Paul Richards, historian
Adrian Parker, ex-Borough Planning Officer
Richard Waite, architect
Elizabeth James (King’s Lynn Civic Society committee member), co-ordinator
Thanks are also extended to the following Civic Society volunteers: Jean Tuck, Herbie Knights, Colin James, Colin Johnston, Peter Putterill, Vivian Putterill, Rick Morrish, Helen Russell-Johnson and Anna Gunn.
The Local List structures may not be regarded as remarkable in a national context, but they are considered important in reflecting the development of King’s Lynn, significant periods in the town’s history and cultural and social development. Such structures provide locally distinctive character and often unique combinations of materials, architectural styles and urban development patterns.
It is therefore important that these heritage characteristics are recognised and properly considered by planners, developers and builders when regenerating or renovating parts of the town or individual buildings and features. We hope this online resource will enable a better understanding of the town’s heritage resource and a more sympathetic approach to development applications.
The Local List should be considered a ‘live document’. Other structures or features may come to light that have been missed in our original surveys. The significance of some structures may become better recognised in future. And some buildings of local significance will inevitably be lost. We would welcome any submissions from local residents or historians that can throw more light on the historical development of King’s Lynn or individual structures of particular interest.
Therefore, although the Local List structures may not be regarded as sufficiently unique to qualify for ‘listing’ in the national context, they are considered important in telling the story of the growth, significant periods, cultural and social development of King’s Lynn. Such structures provide locally distinctive character and often unique combinations of materials, architectural styles and urban development patterns.
In June, King’s Lynn Civic Society participated in Civic Voice’s ‘fix one thing’ campaign.