Explore the rich history of King’s Lynn Mart from its 13th-century origins to the modern “21st-century fair”.
The mart’s story began in the 13th century. Back then, the town was called Bishop’s Lynn. King John gave the town a charter. It let residents keep more money because they didn’t need to pay the King so much
King Henry III took away these rights later. He did this to punish some Lynn men because they had joined barons against him. Then, the King gave the rights back in 1223. The town sent a group to apologize.
Lynn could then elect its own Mayor. Foreign merchants could sell at the fair too. King Henry VIII renamed the town in 1537. He called it King’s Lynn or Lynn Regis and also granted two yearly fairs.
There were also two weekly markets. One fair was in February on Norfolk Street. That event became the mart. Another fair took place in August.
No fairs happened in 1540 because the plague hit the town. Parliament stopped the fairs the next year because they caused too much economic trouble.
The February mart returned in the 1560s because law made this happen and some people petitioned for it. The August fair, however, did not return.
The mart moved to Tuesday Market Place due to overcrowding and plague. About 10% of Lynn died from the plague. This happened from 1597 to 1598.
The town kept canceling and reopening the mart. This occurred until 1666 because of the plague. The English Civil War did not stop the mart, as it continued until 1646, when another plague outbreak closed it.
Around 1666, the plague ended, so people think. Some say the London fire helped. Others say a harsh winter killed rats.
Victorian fairgrounds became popular, so performers came from everywhere. They needed better attractions to win. Frederick Savage arrived in Lynn and designed merry-go-rounds.
Savage also built switchbacks and show engines. His rides became nationally famous. He exported them from his factory. A statue honors him today because he innovated steam-powered rides.
Queen Elizabeth II visited the mart in 1955. She came with the Queen Mother. They met showmen during a Sandringham stay. They even had tea in a showman’s van.
The mart did not happen in 2021 because COVID-19 restrictions caused this. Organizers felt terrible about it because they wanted to provide fun for people.
A showman wrote to the Queen about the industry. A lady-in-waiting replied, with the Queen hoping for better times in 2021. Lynn Mart reopened in February 2022 and many people came to support it.
The 2025 mart happened. It was called a “21st-century fair.” and it had very modern rides. The mayor welcomed everyone, as he said tradition was important. People were very excited for the opening; the mart has a long and proud history.