Several wooden carvings can be found above the shop front of 'Bown's' on Bridge Street. Bown's is a rather upmarket dress shop but the carvings give a very good indication of the previous life of this building - this is a fairly tame one!! Apparently the whole of this Tudor Street was lined with brothels at one time (definitely into the 18th century) and for years I've believed (because a friend who worked there told me) that The Pickerel Inn next door was the home of the last licensed brothel in England. However, a bit of research has revealed that brothels have never been licensed in England so I should adjust that statement to 'tolerated' . It was also 'tolerated' as a gin palace and opium den. You may think things have improved these days but you should try going in on a Friday night when the students are in town!!
Big big thanks to everybody who commented on yesterday's photos - I enjoyed snapping round town yesterday and it was really great to get such positive feedback! Today's shot's a little less typical England!
@flamez Well it may all be rubbish of course - although if the other carvings are anything to go by I'm pretty sure about this bit of history - you wouldn't want your kids to look up - well I make mine now just to embarrass them!
OO-er! I want to see the rudey ones LOL! What a fascinating and ornate wink to the seedy past, it amazes me that they would go to such trouble but I'm assuming at the time it was big business and probably a sign of wealth to frequent such places? Thanks for sharing its a great capture.
@araminta Well the rudey ones don't involve leaves!! And some are women. They must have done well because they are big houses for 16th century but they are near the Quayside which was essentially a dockyard bringing goods in from Europe up the rivers from Kings Lynn. Lots of passing trade I suppose!
