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Ipswich Sunk Light Tavern
Ipswich Sunk Light Tavern
52.0435,1.16244
Closed: between 1840 and 1920
Cliff Quay
grid reference TM 169 430 (approximate location)
This is listed in the census immediately after Cliff House and Cliff Brewery House, the Ship Launch is the last entry.
The only concrete reference so far apart from the census is on 1839/40 drawn sections along the River Orwell, produced during the planning of the Wet Dock (held in Suffolk Record Office). Although not locating the pub precisely, these drawing seem to locate it approximately 3000 feet south of the Wherry Inn, so roughly in the area where it's marked on our map.
There are rumours of a pub in this area which was situated on an old light vessel. It may be that this was it. There may be some connection with the Sunk Centre Lightvessel (often referred to as the Sunk Light). Perhaps this was a re-use of an earlier vessel on this station?
Historical interest
The census listing starts at houses on the race course and ends at the Ship Launch. A tenement called Sunk Light is also listed.
THREAT TO SHOOT
On Monday last, John Arnold, was charged before the Magistrates at the Town Hall, Ipswich, with having threatened to shoot and stab Charles Barton, the landlord of the Sunk Light, near the Cliff Brewery. The defendant said, in answer to the charge, that he did not recollect making the threat. The cause of the threat appears to have arisen from the plaintiffs removing a barge belonging to the defendant from Mr Cobbold's quay, by order of that gentleman. …Ipswich Journal, Saturday September 7th 1844
DIED
26th ult at the residence of Mr C Barton, Sunk Light, Cliff, Ipswich, Mrs Amy Mills age 77 years.Ipswich Journal, Saturday February 3rd 1855
Landlords
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)