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Ipswich Mitre
Ipswich Mitre
North East, 52.05764,1.1546
closed 5th April 1958
30 Tavern St
grid reference TM 163 446
The Mitre stood on the corner of Tavern St and Dial Lane. A December 2016 article in the EADT identifies its location as "on the west" side of Dial Lane.
The 1903-1961 Ipswich licensing record shows the Mitre as standing in "Old Buttermarket" (an alternative name for Dial Lane, or perhaps the area?) It ceased trading as a pub in 1958, after which it operated only as an off-license. Confusingly, there was also another Mitre pub at the same time, in St Helen's Street.
Beside the houses already mentioned, one of the most important and extensive, was that known as the " Mitre," standing at comer of Dial Lane. Its position, in what may be termed an ecclesiastical neighbourhood, sufficiently accounts for its name, which in some cases is not so very evident as in this. Special interest is attached to the house by reason of its having formed part of an ancient ecclesiastical edifice, remains of which were discovered below the street level in the year 1846, and again brought to light during the past year in the course of extensive alterations. A drawing of these " remnants of antiquity, which had escaped the shipwreck of time," was made soon after the former discovery, and is preserved among that part of the Fitch Collection, which is to be found in the library of our Suffolk Institute of Archaeology, at Bury St. Edmund's, and is there called the " Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene :" I am unable to say what authority there is for this name. The remains are best described as two subterranean chambers, one of which lay beneath Tavern Street proper, and the other in Dial Lane, a third chamber further down the lane, communicated with the latter by an early English doorway, but this can only be described as an uninteresting vault. The communication was probably continuous, and most likely led to the premises of the Carmelites or White Friars, which occupied a portion of the Old Butter Market. A second doorway of similar character, but of larger dimensions, in all probability communicated with St. Lawrence Church. The roof of the chamber nearest Tavern street was groined, and an opening in the wall on the North side, presented the appearance of a piscina or water stoup. A greater part of this underground structure had apparently been utilized by the former occupiers of the Mitre Tavern, and a number of broad vaulted arches of massive brick work, some feet thick, were evidently put together with mortar such as would have been used two centuries or so back.Proceedings of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and Natural History, 1888
Gallery
Historical interest
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal, June 10th & 17th 1727***, to the Mitre Tavern in Ipswich?
To be lett, the house and shop at the end of Tower Lane, over against the Mitre Tavern, in Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, April 5th 1729***
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal, August 18th 1753***, to Samuel Borrett, at the Mitre, Ipswich.
A reference appears in the Ipswich Journal, February 16th 1754***, to Samuel Borret at the Mitre Tavern (a further reference was made in July 1744)
To be lett, a Publick House where there is a Certainty of Drawing about one hundred Barrels of Strong Beer, Small and Spiritous Liquors in Proportion...Enquire at the Mitre in Ipswich.Ipswich Journal, August 23rd 1755***
To be sold, the Mitre Tavern, an old accustom'd House, well situated for Business, near the C…
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
Closure date from Ipswich licensing records.
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)