King's Lynn - A Decadent Town

11/08/2015

16/07/2015

His life – and horrific death – earned him a sombre place in history, as the first heretic to be burned in England under the Statute of Heresies Act of 1401.

10/07/2015

A voice in the wilderness: All artists are exiles - or perhaps everybody is an exile and artists just realise it. Welcome to my home...page.

24/12/2014

RH Fayers. Undertakers, Quayside Docks, King's Lynn, early 1900s.

From all at "King's Lynn; A Decadent Town", we wish you a kinky Christmas & a racy New Year.

Cassandra x

22/12/2014

The "Hob in the Well" Public House (the 'Morgans' building on the left), circa 1910. Littleport Street, King's Lynn.

Said to be in existence in 1796, the name of the pub comes from a 1730s "comic opera" by Colley Cibber in which a messenger boy, acting for a pair of lovers, is thrown into a well by a `wicked uncle'. This was based upon the original play by local Thomas Doggett (a painted portrait of which is in the Town Hall's collection), although this didn't include a well, which was introduced by Cibber in his opera called 'Flora, or Hob in the Well'. Apparently this was the first opera ever to have been staged in America.

Although many people from the town's LGBT community have historically sought out more colourful areas of nearby cities Cambridge and Peterborough to socialise, in recent memory The Hob has served the local gay & le***an community well and is still open to this day; Thursday/Friday/Saturday from 9pm until at least 1am.

It is recorded that, in the early days of the pub, a Hob barmaid Sarah Hipkin was admired by a pair of fishermen, both of whom worked on the fishing smack "The Saucy Kate". Jealousy got the better of Mordecai Baxter and he threw his rival, Obadiah Rix overboard. Mr. Baxter later paid the "full penalty for his crime" of passion.

Opposite the pub, near the base of Dodman's Bridge, it was recorded in 1836 as having extensive pleasure gardens. Next to these gardens was a field where circuses were held. In those days it was the custom for the circus to parade through town when it arrived to drum up some publicity for the show. In 1887 Ginnett’s circus arrived and set off towards the town. One of the elephants passed up the chance for a drink at the river by Kettlewell Lane and instead tried to enter the saloon bar of the Hob In The Well. The customers must have had something of a shock as they exited rapidly through the open windows!

Clearly the pub has a passionate, lively history!

Cassandra x

Some of the above information taken from the following sources;

http://www.norfolkpubs.co.uk/kingslynn/hkingslynn/klhob.htm
http://www.norwichcamra.org.uk/nips/nips159.pdf

16/12/2014

"Going Dutch". Early Glamour Photograph, London Road Photographic Studios, King's Lynn. Early 1900s.

This scorching hot girl-on-girl glamour photograph from King's Lynn around the turn of the 20th Century was probably influenced by the incoming dutch culture from sailors and their families "visiting" from the town's newly-formed Alexandra and Bentinck docks in town. The Dutch culture was of such an influence to King's Lynn that bi-lingual signs were erected around the town centre, including dutch language signs for important local shops of the time.

King's Lynn - facts from the docks & streets;

An "R. Wright" was in Providence street with a photography business as early as 1868.
"JJ" and "R. Wright" had a photographic studio at London Road from the 1870s onward.

Cassandra x

09/12/2014

Featuring babes, glamour, s*x workers, tales of deviancy and po*******hy in King's Lynn, Norfolk. England.

A regular series.

09/12/2014

Devils' Alley. King's Lynn Town Centre. Early 1900s.

With both Alexandra Dock and Bentinck Dock now open, alongside the local need for shipping cargo holds from the docks through to key areas around the country, the early 1900s saw a boost for the local s*x trade. Lots of farmhands and sailors in the town meant a very keen desire for rumpy pumpy in every way, shape and form.

The narrow and darkly-lit Devils Alley, leading to the South Quay, was a popular through-route for s*x workers, drunken sailors and black market trade in o***m and ether. It seems almost natural for stories of the supernatural and the occult to soon emerge to scare children and the innocent away from the deviant behaviour happening in that alleyway.

King's Lynn - facts from the docks & streets;

1870 - Electric incandescent lamp invented by T.A. Edison.
1876 - Invention of the telephone by A.G. Bell.
1880 - Over 580 vessels used the Alexandra dock Lynn.
1881 - Population of Lynn 17,362. Formation of King's Lynn Police Band.

21/11/2014

King's Lynn Town Centre, December 6th, 2014. 10am-4.30pm.

Calling all cineastes, David Lynch fans and dilettantes; a 1 day seminar in King's Lynn with Sue Burge on Film Noir. For more details or booking, please contact; [email protected]

Cassandra x

23/10/2014

"The S*x-Life of King's Lynn" Photograph; Devils Alley, South Quay, King's Lynn. Early 1900s.

Look out for our long-planned series of 'salacious' historical photographs, scandalous anecdotes and hot s*x throughout the ages, all from King's Lynn - in our new 'S*x-Lives of King's Lynn' Facebook album coming soon...

A 'Winter Warmer' indeed...

Cassandra x

03/10/2014

KING'S LYNN CORN EXCHANGE. Wednesday 8th October 2014, 7.30pm.

If you're after entertainment with that little something extra...

"Lady Boys of Bangkok"

16 of Thailand’s most beautiful and intriguing lady boys enter King's Lynn, performing a show like no other, So get hot under the collar whilst the stars burn up the stage in ‘Red Hot Kisses’ the brand new show for 2014.

This show drips with diamante and sizzles with new songs and raucous comedy in truly glamorous style, with even more flamboyant costumes, immaculate make-up and show-stopping choreography.

'The Lady Boys of Bangkok are simply the best cabaret floor show you will see at the Fringe or anywhere else, they are simply fantastic!' (Edinburgh Guide).

More details and booking information here...

http://www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk/event/lady-boys-of-bangkok-640

Cassandra x