Whaling and shipbuilding were just two of the important local occupations in the parish of South Lynn. The Shipyards were situated near the Southgate, on the bank of the River Nar.

Ships were built in this parish from the 12th until the 19th century, King's Lynn being referred to as the port for 'inland' Cambridge. People living in South Lynn would gather on the river bank to watch the launch of every ship, then fled before the ensuing great wave as the ship was launched sidways into the river!

Blubber Creek, just visible from the end of Gladstone Road, was the site where the whaling ships docked and where the 'cargo' was processed.

The height of the whaling industry in King's Lynn was from 1774 to 1821, with whaling brought wealth and employment to the town.  The Greenland Fishery in Bridge Street, King’s Lynn, became associated with the industry and was reputed to be the favourite tavern of the crews of the whaling ships.

From 1771, every ship of sufficient strength to encounter the Greenland seas, properly manned and equipped for whaling, which sailed to Greenland and returned to its port of origin, would be entitled to a bounty of 40/- per ton, on every voyage for five years. This increase in bounty, formerly 20/-, and the possibility of a good catch, encouraged on average about five ships a year from King's Lynn to undertake the journey to Greenland.  The whaling ships, vessels of about 200 tons, carrying four boats, four apprentices (some as young as twelve), twenty-six men (including a surgeon and a master), were funded by wealthy Lynn merchants

The whales were caught mainly for the blubber, the oil being used for lighting, which was the most popular fuel of its day.  It was used in everything from lamps to lighthouses, and it was also the finest mechanical lubricant available. The coming of 'town gas' saw the demise of whaling and this, together with the withdrawal of the bounty in 1824, is considered by some to have to have seen the end of the whaling industry in King's Lynn.