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Ipswich Crown & Anchor
Ipswich Crown & Anchor
South, 52.05842,1.1518
closed 1986
opened 1840s
10 Westgate St
grid reference TM 161 446
The hotel is shown on this OS town plan from about 1880 (larger map).
The current building stands on the site of earlier pub(s) known to date back to at least the 16th century. These include the Chequers (later renamed Rampant Horse) and the Griffin.
Listed in 1823 as a commercial inn, the old buildings were demolished in 1838.
Rebuilt in 1840s. By 1855 is listed as a posting house, and in 1874 as the "Crown & Anchor Family & Commercial Hotel & posting house".
Gothic ornate front was built in 1898-99
In 1912 it was listed as a commercial hotel & motor garage.
The hotel now houses WH Smith and Clark's.
Gallery
Historical interest
Crown and Anchor Tavern, Hotel and Coffee House, Ipswich. Announcement that the landlord, George Crisp will shortly open his new Billiards Room.Suffolk Chronicle, 13 Mar 1813***
To be sold by auction, Lot 1, The capital sash fronted , well accustomed freehold Inn, called the Crown and Anchor, situated in St Matthew's Street, in Ipswich, and extending 63ft in front…
Landlords
Footnote
"The man resposible for this sonework re-fronting of The Crown & Anchor Hotel was one of the foremost 19th century Ipswich architects, Thomas W. Cotman, nephew of the famous watercolourist, John Sell Cotman. His use of stone, not a characterisitic local building material in Ipswich, for business premises is unusual and can be seen in other fine town buildings including the nearby Lloyds Chambers on Cornhill" (Ipswich Borough Conservation Officer, Bob Kindred)
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(** information from Stuart Ansell)
(*** historic newspaper information from Bob Mitchell)
Old OS map reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
