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Ipswich King's Head

Ipswich King's Head

also traded as Old King's Head

South East, 52.05739,1.15204

closed 1880

opened 1531

14 King St

grid reference TM 161 445

The King's Head was demolished to make way for the Corn Exchange in 1880, together with adjacent Sickle. This was one of the town's most ancient inns; one of only 24 to appear on a town assessment of 1689. It's claimed**** that King Street takes its name from the inn. It was a notorious venue for cock-fighting in the 18th century.

One of several pubs in the town that used to host cock-fighting in eighteenth and early nineteenth century. This bloody spectacle could last several hours and was eventually banned in 1835. A one time it was particularly popular as a form of gambling and bouts were often held during festival days and during the Ipswich horse racing week.

These premises were listed in the 1844 White's Directory, with carriers operating from the inn to Bergholt.

By 1865 it was called the Old Kings Head.

Map

map

Gallery

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Historical interest

Historical interest

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Landlords

Landlords

(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)

(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)

(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)

(**** proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and Natural History, 1888)

(***** information supplied by Neil Langridge)

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