Ruins of St James' Chapel, County Court Road, Kings Lynn, Norfolk
This chapel was probably built between 1121 and 1144 by Bishop Eborard. The nave, which was 100 feet long by 24 feet wide, was pulled down in 1549. The remaining parts were converted to a workhouse for baize manufacture in 1566. In 1597, after the plague had become prevalent, it was converted into a hospital. In 1645, it became a 'pest-house'. In 1682 it became a hospital for "fifty decayed old men, women, and children". After 1699, the guardians of the poor of the parish of St Margaret's took over the building, which returned to use as St James' Workhouse. It accommodated 170 inmates with the addition of a 40-bed infirmary in 1823. In 1837, it became King's Lynn Union Workhouse and after an expenditure of £750 could accommodate 200 people. In 1854, the clock tower collapsed and most of the rest of the building was demolished. Two people were apparently killed when the tower gave way including a local clockmaker and a workhouse inmate who had refused to get out of bed. A replacement Union workhouse was built on Extons Road to accommodate 468 inmates.
