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This photograph is of Bussle Smith a famous old North End fisherman. It is one of about six thousand or so images contained within the museums archives. The museum hopes eventually to be able to make the entire collection accessible to researchers. The film below shows some of the volunteers, and manager Joanna, busy around the museum.
The museum is now fully accredited and bears the logo of the MLA council
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Welcome to the Trues Yard website, an invaluable resource for all those seeking material about the part of King's Lynn referred to as The Northend. Please use the links at the top of each page to navigate this site.
INTRODUCTION
True's Yard is all that remains of King's Lynn's old fishing community, the North End, which existed for hundreds of years, and which was finally demolished in the clearances of the 1930’s and the 1960’s. Once hundreds of families lived within a stone's throw of their chapel of St Nicholas, which still dominates the area, and the North End had its own boat builders, chandlers, sail makers, pubs, bake houses and school. Now, although the fishing fleet still sails regularly from King's Lynn, the old way of life has gone.
You can watch a film of one small boys memories of the old Northend by clicking.northend memories
But the hard and sometimes dangerous life they led, bred a fierce loyalty in the Northenders - they supported each other in times of crisis, seldom married anyone from outside the North End (adultery was virtually unknown), and cared for their widows and orphans. The menfolk, in their traditional 'ganseys', would sail up to 100 miles away to bring in their catch, and their women would tend the children, wait and pray, and mend the nets when they came home. A visit to True'sYard today, which is dedicated to preserving the memory of those people, still conveys much of that feeling of gritty endurance against the odds.
True's Yard offers a variety of special events through the year, including talks, special exhibitions, local history courses, tracing your family tree etc, as well as jumble sales.
As part of a fund raising effort a concert of Northend music specially written by the Tilden Smiths, was performed by the group at St Nicholas Chapel. An audio CD and film of the event is available from the museum and you can see an excerpt from this link, St Nicholas Chapel Concert
OPENING TIMES. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00am until 4.00 pm. Summer openings include Mondays through June and July. The museum is accessible by wheelchair everywhere except the upstairs rooms at the cottages. Group visits are welcome but pre-booking is essential. Entry costs £3 for adults, £2.50 senior citizens, children £1.50 and under 5’s go free. Members of the Time Club have free admission with membership badge and when accompanied by a full paying adult.
There are special rates for family groups and for group visits. Reseach facilities are also available, contact the museum for details.
Please be aware that we are not part of the Norfolk Museum Service and are unable to accept the Norfolk Museum Pass card.