NHER 62822 (Monument record) - Site of Athenaeum, Baxter's Plain

This is the site of the Athenaeum. The idea of housing the town's literary, artistic and scientific societies under one roof was first discussed at a meeting held in the public library in 1852. A project committee was formed, and a site quickly identified and purchased. The building was designed by William Maberly and built by James and William Purdy. The overall cost of the scheme was £6,400. The building opened in 1854 and contained two libraries, a museum, rooms for the various societies including the Lynn Conversazione and Arts Society, and a music hall. The building was enlarged in 1873 with the addition of the Blackfriars' Hall and the Athenaeum Chambers. The entire complex was demolished in 1936 to make way for the Head Post Office. Information from (S1).
The building was of red brick in an Italianate style, and on the front of the building was a statue of Minerva, the goddess of learning. The museum occupied a large galleried room on the ground floor for half a century (having previously been located in Welwick House (NHER 12083)), prior to moving to its current location on Union Street in 1904. The entire block was sold in 1872 for £3500, the income being insufficient to pay the interest on the mortgage, so the building passed into private ownership. The addition of Blackfriars' Hall (capable of seating 400 people) and several offices known as the Athenaeum Chambers, and a large private residence, cost £3500. In January 1883 the Government purchased the front part of the block for a central post office and telegraph station at a cost of £4400. The rest of the building was purchased by the King's Lynn Forward Association at a cost of £5250 to provide a general educational and recreative institution for working men and women and this was opened in 1898. Information from (S2).
A. Cattermole (King's Lynn UAD), 10 June 2019.