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Ipswich Portobello Inn
Ipswich Portobello Inn
also traded as Porto Bello
West, 52.0563,1.15986
closed 28th September 1907
39 Upper Orwell St
grid reference TM 167 444
The pub is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
The building has suffered some re-modelling since it was an inn; the upper floor used to have a substantial over-hang.
Gallery
Historical interest
To be sold or lett...a Freehold Messuage, some time since known by the Sign of the Porto-Bello, situate near the Plough Inn in St Clement's Parish, Ipswich, with a small Piece of pasture Land adjoining…
Landlords
Footnote
Probably named after capture of Porto Bello by Admiral Vernon in 1739. Later the Admiral was MP for Ipswich from 1741-60. The admiral lived in Orwell Park and was popular locally but will also be long remembered for watering down Navy Rum, for which he was also known as "old grog".
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(detailed information from Old inns of Suffolk by Leonard P Thompson)
(some old PO directory information courtesy of londonpublichouse.com)
(** historic newspaper information from Stuart Ansell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.