Listed buildings in King's Lynn– shame about Lloyds move, Lynn News letters

But the real tragedy is that the former Lloyds Bank premises, with its sculptural, Portland stone embellishments is a TSB, with inappropriate modern signage that is completely at odds with its magnificently executed original incised name.

Why when the banks were split up was Lloyds sent down the High Street to the undistinguished building that had housed TSB? The reason, of course, yet another decision made by faceless directors far, far away from the town where the effects of their decisions will be felt.

Is it any wonder that our streets are filled with corporate fascias that remove any charm or individuality and reduce our towns to one indistinguishable entity?

Lynn’s main shopping thoroughfares are filled with lovely buildings, but you have to look way above ground level to appreciate them. Meanwhile there is universal dismay at what has been termed the death of our high streets.

There is great fanfare of the new Food Warehouse on the Hardwick Retail Park. How many customers is this going to remove from the town centre?

Kwik Fit building. Before you question whether or not it should have been listed, go round to St James Street and view it from the south side and see what a handsome structure was built there in 1908 by the Bardell Brothers of King’s Lynn. Using a pioneering technique it is one of the earliest reinforced concrete-framed buildings in England and predates by 22 years an office block in London, which was, until now, often regarded as England’s earliest example of this architectural style. Thanks to the Bardells, Lynn had one first and, now protected, it remains to this day.

Sally Turff

Lynn