True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum King’s Lynn  – King’s Lynn Social History Museum

True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum Kings Lynn is virtually all that remains of King’s Lynn’s old fishing community, the North End. 

Years gone by, hundreds of families lived within a stone’s throw of the beautiful medieval chapel of St. Nicholas.  The North End in King’s Lynn had its own boat builders, chandlers, sail-makers, pubs, bake-houses and also a school. The hard and sometimes dangerous life the fisherfolk led, bred a fierce loyalty in the Northenders – they supported each other in times of crisis and strife, they rarely married anyone from outside the North End and cared for their widows and orphans when needed.  The menfolk would sail up to 100 miles away from base to bring in their catch and their women would tend the children, wait, pray and mend the nets when they came home.

The fishing fleet still sails from King’s Lynn, but the old way of life has gone.  The True’s Yard Museum is a social museum that gives an insight of life gone by years ago and how people lived on a daily basis.  The True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum is a great informative family attraction in Norfolk and can be a great family fun day out learning about the past.

True’s yard Fisherfolk Museum for the history of Kings Lynn

True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum History  

The Mangle – The mangle was used to remove excess water from clothes after washing; turning the handle was often a chore given to children. Located in the yard it was shared between all the families who lived there. The Smokehouse – The last surviving smokehouse in the North End; herring were smoked here from the 1880s or earlier. This particular smokehouse and adjacent shop on St Anne’s Street were owned by Mr Thomas Westwood, a former fisherman of North Street. He married Mary Anne Benefer in 1869 in St Nicholas’ Chapel and raised five daughters and two sons. The daughters would have likely been employed in the shop and smokehouse until they married or found employment elsewhere.

The Samphire Cart – Donated by the Benefer family, it has been used by five generations to hawk samphire. Samphire is an edible sea plant, known as the poor man’s asparagus. The Activity – Built in 1904 by the Hornigold brothers (two fishermen) she is a typical Lynn half-decker shrimp and shell fishing smack. The Activity was used to harvest shrimps in the summer months, whilst at other times of the year she could be used to gather cockles and mussels. The Lynn fishermen are referred to as ‘inshore fishermen’; they do not go to deep sea. The Activity has a shallow draught in order for it to navigate the largely shallow waters of the Wash at low tide.

The sea and ships contributed so much to the town in the past. Today, the rich merchant’s houses in the riverside streets contrast with the tiny cottages of the fisherfolk at True’s Yard. The Smithy – This building was once the North End blacksmith’s shop, in the days when nothing was thrown away but repaired whenever possible. This is the main Museum space, displaying more artefacts kindly donated by North End families.
Don’t forget to visit our tearoom and gift shop. The shop was once Southgates’ shop and family home.

Children and Teachers 
Research Centre – Pat Midgley 
Time Club Join 
Events Calendar

After Covid 19 – We look forward to seeing you soon.

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