Category Archives: NRO Research Bloggers

Gruesome goings-on in Old Hunstanton

Posted on July 31, 2018 by

There is a slim uncatalogued file in the King’s Lynn Archive which contains some 14 documents, dated to the 24th year of King George III’s reign labelled, “Customs Murder Suit”. George III reigned from 1760 to 1820. These documents include … Continue reading →

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The Struggles of Motherhood Recorded in the 19th Century Norfolk Lunatic Asylum

Posted on June 20, 2018 by

Mental health issues are a feature of modern life and the archive of Norfolk Lunatic Asylum, or St Andrew’s Hospital as it was renamed in the 1920s, shows this is not new. It is interesting to compare the ‘causes of … Continue reading →

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Norfolk Lunatic Asylum/St Andrew’s Hospital

Posted on June 7, 2018 by

Case notes for the Norfolk Lunatic Asylum show that the admission of a significant number of female patients in 1845-1870, was due to women’s mental health after childbirth. The notes suggest that their physical condition was frail and the physical … Continue reading →

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Whales, Kidney Stones, and The Charming Sally: Records of Life on and off Board in the late 1700s

Posted on May 30, 2018 by

At first glance, a calendar regarding the petitions and decisions by the King’s Lynn port Trustees under the ‘Act for the relief of maimed and disabled seamen and widows and children of those killed in the merchant service’ may not … Continue reading →

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Barbary Pirates near King’s Lynn!

Posted on May 17, 2018 by

The King’s Lynn Borough Archive has a wonderful series of large, leather bound books, called the Hall Books, recording the proceedings of the Town Council. This record, for 10th January, 1625, reports the “granting of twelve great pieces of ordinance … Continue reading →

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King’s Lynn Tank

Posted on May 2, 2018 by

Using documents held at the King’s Lynn Borough Archives. When I was very young- and we’re talking now of the early 1950s- my grandad, who’d served in WW1 with the Bradford Pals in the West Yorkshire Light Infantry, gave me … Continue reading →

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A Tale of Two Spectres: Will the Real Syderstone Ghost Please Stand Up

Posted on April 13, 2018 by

Search online for the Syderstone Ghost (Syderstone is a village near Fakenham in Norfolk) and you will find one strong connection. Look a little closer and you will come across a less well-known contender. Fortunately, Norfolk Record Office has you … Continue reading →

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From Gunpowder to Fire Engines: The Role of the Cannonier in looking after Norwich’s seventeenth-century fire Fighting Equipment

Posted on March 20, 2018 by

Today, the Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service protects Norwich, along with the rest of the county, using dozens of emergency vehicles and a range of advanced equipment. In the seventeenth century (when most buildings were made of wood) the technology … Continue reading →

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