Duke's Head Hotel by Lucy Sugden Weaving Artist
Duke's Head Hotel
Grade II listed Duke’s Head Hotel is a former coaching inn built in 1683-1689 possibly to the designs of Henry Bell.
The Duke’s Head Hotel has a distinctive facade in the classical style which has a well-proportioned composition. It is said the projection of the central bay under a deep broken segmental pediment and decorative detailing give the Duke’s Head Hotel a Baroque sense of movement. It is possible the Duke’s Head Hotel is attributed to the architect Henry Bell who was responsible for introducing the classical style to King’s Lynn with his Grade I-listed Customs House in 1683.
Duke’s Head Hotel was commissioned by Sir John Turner MP to accommodate people visiting the Customs House, and it is therefore an important representative of the trade that made King’s Lynn a prosperous national port in the 17th and 18th Centuries. It is the most prominent building in Tuesday Market Place, described in Pevsner as ‘one of the most splendid open spaces in provincial England.
Created: 9 June 2021 Edited: 29 November 2023
Duke's Head Hotel
Local History around Duke's Head Hotel
There are some historic monuments around including:
Greyfriars TowerMoated site of Wormegay Priory, fishponds and associated enclosuresLittleport Street BridgeMoated site in Crow's Wood, 700m south west of the ruined church of St JamesPortion of town walls in Kettlewell LaneCross in St Margaret's churchyardRemains of St James' Church and surrounding Saxon and medieval settlementMedieval town wallsWhitefriars Gateway, South LynnTown wall beside Wyatt StreetMedieval settlement remains north of Kenwick Farm houseThe Former South Gate and Southgates BridgeRed Mount Chapel, The WalkMiddleton Mount motte and bailey castlePost-medieval defences.
