Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1204-1974 (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The borough consisted of the parish of St Margaret only until South Lynn was annexed to it in 1555, by a royal grant which was confirmed and made permanent in 1557. It was known as Lynn Episcopi, or Lynn Bishop, until 1536-7, when the estates of the Bishop of Norwich, including the lordship of Lynn, were transferred to the Crown and the change of name confirmed by letters patent. Other significant royal grants include incorporation in 1524, the Guildhall, Tolbooth, Leet and Pie Powder Courts in 1537 and Admiralty jurisdiction in 1604.\r\nThe boundaries of the municipal borough were extended by the King's Lynn Corporation Act 1880 to include parts of Gaywood and North Lynn and by the County of Norfolk Review Order 1935 to the civil parishes of Gaywood and North Lynn and parts of West Lynn and North Runcton. On 1 April 1974 the former municipal borough became part of the newly formed District of West Norfolk (since 1981 the Borough of King's Lynn and West Norfolk), which also included the areas of the former Rural Districts of Docking, Downham Freebridge Lynn and Marshland and the Urban Districts of Downham Market and Hunstanton.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Unreformed Corporation (before 1835) (KL/C)
Including series of records which continued unbroken after the Municipal Corporations Act.
Archive lists, 1732-1887 KL/C 1/1-11
Royal charters and letters patent, 1204-1737 KL/C 2/1-62
Royal letters close and privy seal writs, 1327-1495 KL/C 3/1-7
Episcopal and other non-royal charters, formal letters and agreements, 1204-1609 KL/C 4/1-17
Guild merchant of the Holy Trinity:minutes, 13th-16th centuries KL/C 5/1-4
Hall rolls, 1385-1422 KL/C 6/1-6
Hall books, 1372-3 and 1422-1902 KL/C 7/1-31
Hall, Committee, and statutory Commissioners' minutes, 1730-1866 KL/C 8/1-48
Freemen and apprenticeships, 1440-1868; honorary freemen, 1901-1969 KL/C 9/1-29
Red Register, Asshebourne's book, enrolled charters, deeds, precedents etc., c 1300-1924 KL/C 10/1-29
Enrolled private deeds, 1571-1881 KL/C 11/1-28
Enrolled and deposited wills, 1276-1751 KL/C 12/1-16
Assize of bread, 1296-1298 KL/C 13/1
Coroner's inquests, 1302-1305 KL/C 14/1
Constables' inquisitions, 1309, 1314 KL/C 15/1-2
Hustings rolls, 1334-1335 and 1349 KL/C 16/1-2
Leet rolls and books, 1309-1871 KL/C 17/1-41
Gaol delivery roll, 1455 KL/C 18/1
Commissions of the Peace, 1412 and 1836-7 KL/C 19/1-3
Quarter Sessions books, 1726-1957 KL/C 20/1-12
Quarter Sessions minutes, 1620-1865 KL/C 21/1-28
Oath rolls, 1689-1847, and sessions files, 1841-1971 KL/C 22/1-286 and unnumbered
Sessions presentments, formularies, estreats and miscellaneous papers, 1558-1957 KL/C 23/1-33
Petty Sessions books, 1794-1808 KL/C 24/1-3
Guildhall Court books, 1591-1842 KL/C 25/1-44
Guildhall Court plaint books, 1658-1846 KL/C 26/1-43
Guildhall Court papers (miscellaneous) and rules, 1657-1846 KL/C 27/1-33
Court of Requests minutes and papers, 1770-1846 KL/C 28/1-14
Court of Pie Powder minutes, 1618-1657 KL/C 29/1
Court of Admiralty court books, 1734-1835, and papers, 1604-1830 KL/C 30/1-17
Tolbooth Court orders, 1587 KL/C 31/1
Corporation officers' oath rolls, 1580, 1770 and 1828 KL/C 32/1-3
Appointments of High Stewards, 1665 and 1792 KL/C 32 /1-2
Returns of election of Members of Parliament, 1313 and 1701-1815 KL/C 34/1-18
Mayoral indentures of loan of corporation plate, 1346/7 and 1609-1815 KL/C 35/1-72
Appointments of Corporation officers, 1296 and 1623-1841 KL/C 36/1-266
Tallage rolls, 1292-1357 KL/C 37/1-7
Holy Trinity Guild account rolls, 1373-1509 KL/C 38/1-31
Chamberlains' accounts, 1319-1835 KL/C 39/1-241
Auditors' statements of revenue and expenditure, 1829-1835 KL/C 40/1-7
Chamberlains' cash books and vouchers, 1727-1832 KL/C 41/1-33
Treasurers' accounts, 1685-1835 KL/C 42/1-2
Other officers' accounts, 1413-1750 KL/C 43/1-12
Accounts of tolls, dues and water rents, 1557-1852 KL/C 44/2-128
Miscellaneous accounts, 1569-1823 KL/C 45/1-28
Accounts with Exchequer, 1351-1807 KL/C 46/1-73
Tax assessments, c. 1785-1705 KL/C 47/1-46
Surveys, terriers and rentals, c. 1279-1809 KL/C 48/1-13
Manor of King's Lynn rentals, 1575-1849 KL/C 49/1-13
Corporation estates: title deeds, c. 1280-1833 KL/C 50/1-664 and draft lists
Corporation estates: leases, 1571-1811 KL/C 51/1-153 and draft lists
Corporation estates: registers of leases, 1553-1853 KL/C 52/1-9
Ferry rights: deeds and papers, 1286-1924 KL/C 53/1-51
Snettisham estate: deeds and estate papers, c.1290-1909 KL/C 54/ interim list
Fitton Farm estate: deeds and papers, 1481-1866 KL/C 55/ interim list
Gaywood Hospital deeds and estate papers, 13th century-1865 KL/C 56/1-42
Religious gild records, early 13th century-1537 KL/C 57/ interim list (Gd)
Grammar School and related charities: deeds and papers, 1408-1921 KL/C 58/1-45
St Margaret with St Nicholas church and parish records, 1422-1866 KL/C 59/1-39
Tolbooth deeds and papers, 1316-1860 KL/C 60/ interim list
Mayoral Chronicles, 16th-18th century KL/C 61/1-6
Interim lists: Miscellaneous and working papers, 14th-19th centuries, including some historical manuscripts
Trustees under an Act for the relief of maimed and disabled merchant seamen etc.: minutes, accounts and papers 1747-1827 KL/TS
Town Clerk (KL/TC)
Council minutes, 1902-1974 (minutes before 1902 are included in the Hall books, KL/C 7); KL/TC1
Committee minutes, 1793-1969 KL/TC2
Byelaws and orders 1830-1966 Interim list
Electoral registers 1834-1915 KL/TC 10
Oaths and declarations of Coporation officers 1828-1900 Draft lists at Lynn
Miscellaneous deeds to Corporation properties Interim lists; some unlisted
Correspondence, reports and subject files, 19th-20th centuries Draft lists at Lynn; some unlisted
Borough Treasurer (KL/TR)
Annual statements of accounts 1835-1959 KL/TR1-2
Ledgers 1836-1856 KL/TR3
Cash books 1836-1856 KL/TR4
Vouchers, late 19th-century-1925 Draft list at Lynn; some unlisted
Theatre Treasurer's accounts and papers 1815-1947 Interim list
Planning (KL/SE)
Borough Surveyor and Engineers' plans 19th-20th centuries Draft lists at Lynn
Registers of deposited (building control) plans 1883-1962; plans 1883-1959. KL/SE 2
Registers of street and house numbering 1902-1970 Interim list
Maps and Plans KL/SE 3
Paving Commissioners (KL/PC)
Minutes, accounts, deeds and papers, 1790-1872 KL/PC and some unlisted
Parish Councils and Parochial Committees (KL/PCL)
Gaywood, North Lynn and West Lynn 1894-1935 KL/PCL
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
For uncatalogued material with interim lists.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Catalogued