Ruins Of St James' Chapel

The ruins of St James' Chapel are located on County Court Road in King's Lynn. Founded before 1146, the nave was demolished in 1548 and extensively robbed in 1559, leaving only the crossing and one bay of the chancel. These remnants were converted into a workhouse by the Council in 1580, which became ruinous by 1680. The workhouse was rebuilt in 1681, possibly to designs by Henry Bell, who was part of the supervising committee. The central bay and tower collapsed in 1854, and the site was used for industry until it was demolished in 1910. The original layout followed Mendicant lines, featuring a nave, chancel, and a central octagonal tower over a passageway. The structure has a brick core with limestone facing and currently has no roof. The west end shows the ruins of a cruciform crossing pier with a set-off, while the east pier lacks ashlar facing. Between these piers is a brick infill that contains a 4-light timber mullioned window with a transom, likely dating from 1680.