Lovely historic photos show King’s Lynn over the decades

King's Lynn High Street, shops include John Collier, Palmer and Harvey Ltd and Alexandre, April 1963. Photo: Archant Library

Take a walk along King's Lynn's cobbled streets and down to the Purfleet Quay, the Custom House and tha banks of the Great Ouse and there are examples of the town's fascinating maritime heritage and trading power everywhere.

A member of the powerful Hanseatic League during the late Middle Ages, the merchants grew rich from trading around the world in food and other goods.

Over the years, the emphasis of the trade and industry might have changed, but the town still remained an important centre in East Anglia for food production and business.

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Rhubarb canning progress at the Donald Cook factory in King's Lynn, May 1972. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant)

Spring sunshine greets the children of South Wootton First School near King's Lynn as they dance around the maypole, 2nd May 1989. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant)

Aerial view of the boxing and despatch department at Frigoscandia in King's Lynn, 1976. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant)

King Edward VII Grammar School in King's Lynn, 1973. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant)