Christchurch Mansion is one of the cultural highlights of Ipswich, a free to enter museum in a grand central former residence. The story of the site begins in the twelfth century when Holy Trinity Priory was built here, but King Henry VIII had some thoughts about that and it closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. A London merchant named Paul Withypoll purchased the site and his son started work on building a residential property to be proud of in 1547.

In 1735, the house was purchased by Claude Fonnereau, a London merchant of some considerable means, opening up the gardens to the general public in an early display of upper class kindness. His descendants sold the property to a syndicate of buyers, including Felix Cobbold, who promptly gifted the house to the people of Ipswich. The Ipswich Corporation then purchased the surrounding parkland and it has been used as a museum since 1885.

The frontage of the house and there was a friendly staff member standing inside welcoming visitors to the property.

Many of the rooms have been designed to recreate periods from the past, with this being the Green Room which was intended to provide a semi-public reception area where guests were entertained. It’s from the mid eighteenth century and shows what the room might have looked like in its French style.

The Fonnereau dining room, also laid out in the mid eighteenth century style.

Elements of the old fireplace have been exposed for the delight of modern visitors.

This room was intended to be used as a breakfast room, but they’ve decorated it from around 1700 as if it were the intimate room of a lady or gentleman.

My favourite room which is the library, although there aren’t many books on display at the moment. There was once a billiards table in the room as well, but they designed a billiards room of its own downstairs. Having watched some bar billiards games, I can imagine why they wouldn’t want that noise and excitement in a quiet library area.

The Rococo drawing room which is as it might have looked during the mid eighteenth century.

The state bedroom, which was added to the property by Thomas Fonnereau and he installed some decadent wallpaper. This is as it might have looked at the beginning of the eighteenth century.

The Upper Chamber, which is a 1920s add-on to the building which is used to display items of furniture and architectural features from merchant houses in Ipswich which were being demolished at the time.

Looking down into the grand hall, which is where visitors enter.

Tucked away on the ground floor is the servants’ hall which dates to something around the early nineteenth century.

And finally the kitchen, which was at the heart of the mansion and quite rightly so. In 1896, the Victorian cast iron range was removed to reveal the old Tudor fireplace. Some of the stone on the floor was pinched from Holy Trinity Priory which had been knocked down to build the original house.

This is a fine museum and it’s always positive when they’re able to allow free admission to everyone. It’s well reviewed, although there is a single and quite stupid 1 star review which simply says “not as good as Norwich”. At least Ipswich don’t charge for admissions, unlike the quite expensive Norwich museums, but I won’t dwell on any rivalry between the two county towns.

The staff were friendly and warm, there was enough to see for an hour long visit with plenty of information available within each room. There’s also a gallery of paintings, including some by Gainsborough and Constable, to add to the whole arrangement. All really rather lovely, I enjoyed my meander around the building.

One of my favourite pieces on display at the Christchurch Mansion museum is this old tankard, with the words:

When this you see
Remember me
Keep me in your mind
Let all the world
say what they will
Speak of me as you find
Robert Webb

This sounds as if it was owned by someone of considerable character who was frequently in some traditional inn or drinking house, likely causing some trouble. Unfortunately the museum’s on-line catalogue doesn’t seem to list the tankard, so I don’t know anything more about it. A quick Google search finds that this phrase was relatively common on early nineteenth century ceramics, although I don’t know who the Robert Webb was that I assume owned this drinking vessel.

Anyway, another of my random posts, I just liked the wording and the type of person who would acquire this. This reminds me that I haven’t used AI to write a sea shanty recently, so on this worthy theme:

(Verse 1)
Oh, Julian was a sailor bold, with a heart both brave and kind,
He’d sing a tune under the moon, “Keep me in your mind.”
With the rolling waves, he’d sail away, to ports of distant cheer,
Where he’d raise a glass of frothy beer, in a jolly old seafront pub, my dear.

(Chorus)
Yo-ho, hoist the sails high, let’s roam the ocean wide,
In every port, a tale we’ll spin, with laughter as our guide.
Raise a toast to Julian, a sailor brave and true,
Speak of him as you find, with the friendships he’d renew.

(Verse 2)
In every town, the word went ’round, of Julian’s merry ways,
A troubadour with a heart so pure, and a smile that never strays.
From dawn till dusk, he’d share a laugh, with mates both old and new,
And the stories grew as the tankards flew, with cheer in the salty air we knew.

(Chorus)
Yo-ho, hoist the sails high, let’s roam the ocean wide,
In every port, a tale we’ll spin, with laughter as our guide.
Raise a toast to Julian, a sailor brave and true,
Speak of him as you find, with the friendships he’d renew.

(Bridge)
Through storms and gales, his spirit sailed, with courage unconfined,
In every storm, a song he’d form, “Keep me in your mind.”
In the face of fear, he’d lend an ear, to those who felt confined,
In the darkest night, his laughter bright, a beacon for all mankind.

(Verse 3)
Now, Julian’s legend spans the seas, from coast to distant shore,
Where sailors true, with tankards new, sing shanties evermore.
So if you find yourself at sea, in a port of warmth and cheer,
Raise a glass to Julian’s legacy, the sailor we hold dear.

(Chorus)
Yo-ho, hoist the sails high, let’s roam the ocean wide,
In every port, a tale we’ll spin, with laughter as our guide.
Raise a toast to Julian, a sailor brave and true,
Speak of him as you find, with the friendships he’d renew.

(Outro)
So, when you’re in that old seafront pub, and the beer is flowing free,
Remember Julian’s joyful heart, as we sing this shanty at the sea.

Address: Nacton Road, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 100 St Helens Street, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 1 Tuddenham Road, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 22 Lloyds Avenue, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 17 Grafton Way, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: Trafalgar House, Tower Street, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 11 Tower Street, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.

Address: 109 Colchester Road, Ipswich, Suffolk

Local Council: Ipswich

I haven’t yet visited this pub, but maybe sometime soon….. When I do, this text will disappear and my ‘fascinating’ comments about the pub will appear instead.

For the moment, here’s my list of Good Beer Guide pubs visited. And for anyone interested, which I accept isn’t likely to be many people, my favourite pub so far is the Hop and Vine in Hull. Untappd is a handy place to see where I’ve been recently (and feel free to add me, the more the merrier).

I also don’t have an interview with anyone from this pub, but if they want to take part then please do contact me. It’ll also be an effort to update this database with pub closures and updates, but I’ll change the details of anywhere that I’m contacted about. I’m updating on a regular basis new pubs and also removing venues which are clearly more restaurants than pubs. And the pub that I’m saddest about closing is Goose Island in London which shut its doors in late 2022…..

This project is I accept entirely unachievable, namely trying to visit not only every Good Beer Guide pub in the country but having a fair crack of trying to visit as many pubs as I can. But, I have to start somewhere and here is where we’re starting. The image in the photo is from the Phantom Brewery Tap in Reading.