Ipswich Golden Fleece Hotel
last updated Feb 28th, 2023.
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Ipswich Golden Fleece Hotel
also traded as Fleece
South West, 52.06008,1.1474
closed 29th September 1962
opened 18th century
last owner/operator: Tolly Cobbold
46 St Matthew's St
grid reference TM 158 448
The inn is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
The Golden Fleece was demolished, having been acquired by Ipswich Corporation by Compulsory Purchase Order.
It was listed in 1874 as the "Golden Fleece Commercial Hotel & posting house".
Bull baiting once a popular pastime in the yard here until 1805.
Gallery
St Jude's Brewery Tavern 0.03 mile
Brewers Arms 0.12 mile
Arbor House 0.18 mile
Black Horse 0.21 mile
Greyhound 0.23 mile
Manning's 0.25 mileHistorical interest
John Green at the Fleece in St Matthew's Parish, Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, September 13th 1740***
A Florist's Feast at Mr Joseph Rivers's at the Golden Fleece in St Matthew's Parish, Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, April 12th 1742***
Mr Joseph Rivers at the Golden Fleece, St Matthew's Parish, Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, April 12th 1746***
Fleece in Ipswich: Robert Mills begs leave to acquaint former customers and his friends that he has taken this inn and humbly hopes to meet with their approbation…Ipswich Journal, 22 Nov 1794
Thursday last was married, at St. Matthew's Church, by the Rev. William Layton, Mr John Neale, farmer, of Newbourne, to Miss Shorten, eldest daughter of Mr Shorten, of the Fleece Inn, at Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, April 1820***
Stole or Strayed…
Landlords
Footnote
The fleece is a common reference to the wool trade that was very important in Suffolk, particularly in 17th & 18th cent. until cheap imports from the colonies undermined the trade.
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
