On Saturday I had a lovely morning out in Ipswich, visiting some of the places only open to the general public on Heritage Open Days.
I've put in some links which explain more if you are interested.
First of all must show you the Cornhill "modernisation" now the concrete henge has been removed. Here's how it looked a few weeks ago. Very strange concrete things put there just a year ago and already falling to bits
And now ....gone!
Anyway, back to my real reason for being in our county town
The front cover of the brochure shows the Unitarian Meeting House reflected in the Willis building. Both open for visiting but I had other places to go.
And this is the actual Willis Towers Watson Building now 40 years old (originally it was Willis Faber). Famously designed by Norman Foster it was revolutionary in the 1970's. An open plan office building that even had a swimming pool and still has a roof garden. It caused much controversy when it was built but we are all used to it now.
It was open for visiting but modern buildings like this don't really interest me so I didn't bother
Just two photos of the outside as I walked by.
Now this is much more interesting to me. 3-5 Silent Street. (The only Silent Street in the country?) A medieval Grade II listed timber-framed building. Originally part of a much larger building built as an Inn. Just a small part open on Saturday, one ground floor and one first floor room...on the left of this photo below
The two buildings here were once one Tudor Inn- One of the most complete and important Tudor Inns anywhere in the country.
There were lots of information boards to look at in this building, now empty since it closed as a second-hand book shop in 2011 and a leaflet had been produced to explain the history.
It seems it was always an important high status Inn because it lay opposite an important house, now demolished, called Curson House. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey hoped to use Curson House as his retirement home (he didn't live long enough to retire!) and people from the entourages of the visitors to Curson House would have stayed at the Inn. Catherine of Aragon visited Lord Curson in 1517 and Henry VIII in 1522.
This map of Ipswich showing Curson House with Curson Lodge opposite dates from 1610
Wood panelling in the downstairs parlour is thought to be original 17th century, although it has been cut and moved since then. (The bunting is for Heritage Open Buildings)
I also visited the Bethesda Baptist Chapel. I'm sure I've been here in the past when taking part in singing competitions as a member of Wetherden Baptist chapel. Bethesda is huge chapel built in 1912 in classical style on a site used by various religious groups since 1782.
Polished granite two storey columns at the front and wide steps leading up to the big doors.
There is an upper balcony on 3 sides of the chapel with the organ up on the 4th side. The church was full of donations for Harvest Festival - lots of tins of food rather than the fresh produce with which we used to decorate our village chapel in the 1960s.
From the entrance to the front
And from the front looking back to the entrance. I had a nice chat with the lady who was welcoming people by the door, she had once lived in Great Finborough near Stowmarket and knew the leaders at Wetherden Chapel when I was going there.
I also visited two Churches that get a mention in the 100 Treasures Book. One I've tried to visit before but it's normally locked. I've written separate posts for them which will appear sometime later this month.
Still many other interesting locations to visit on next years open days.
Another thing to mention is spotting an Ipswich Town FC legend!......... GEORGE BURLEY In Costa in Debenhams just enjoying a coffee with his wife, several people noticed him, you could see them nudging each other........ but no one bothered him.
He was playing for Ipswich back in the days of 1973-77 when I used to go and watch with boyfriend of the time.
It's fair to say he was a better player than Manager - as a manager he kept getting sacked!
Back Tomorrow
Sue
How beautiful is that old Tudor building - much more visually appealing and interesting than that ultra modern glass monstrosity. Although I dare say there are lots of people who'd prefer that....each to their own.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to find the Willis building had been there for 40 years, there was so much fuss about it when it was built and it became quite famous.
DeleteI would have loved to have seen more of 3 - 5 Silent Street and the rest of the building
My father preached at Bethesda Baptist Church back in the 1970s. Even though the building is old, the members have never been afraid to embrace new technology. They'd just installed a new microphone which clipped on to his jacket, and was connected to the pulpit by a wire. He moved about too much and broke it! Thanks for bringing back a fond memory of my Dad.
ReplyDeleteWith FOY we always went to the singing competitions in Ipswich,at 3 different chapels. what amazes me now is that we were allowed to wander round Ipswich in the tea break!(sandwiches and cakes in a paper bag was always)
DeleteI think there was less to tempt us off the 'straight and narrow' - or maybe they trusted us more then. I got into terrible trouble once after such a visit to Norwich, because I'd wandered into Etam and spent my 'emergency money' on a pair of bright blue nylon briefs with black lace trim. Mum was horrified!
DeleteI think we just bought sweets!
DeleteI used to live just a few shops down from that old Tudor building. The white part right on the corner of Silent street was a chemist when I lived there, went in loads of times as both my children were babies then. That old one and the 'new' glass building are actually only a stones throw apart (although not both visible at the same time as one is round a corner)
ReplyDeleteLots of the houses and shops in this area seem to be empty at the moment - sadly
DeleteA very interesting day out. I always went to the Heritage days years ago and saw some really interesting places.
ReplyDeleteHazel c uk
I hadn't heard about the Open Days until we were living in Ipswich. Nothing much happening outside of Ipswich then although this year I see there were some places open in Bury st Edmunds and Halesworth
DeleteI can appreciate both modern and old buildings after all even the old Tudor buildings were modern in their time. The Eifel tower was a hated monstrosity when it was first erected and now a great landmark much loved all over the world. The French actually have a great knack for blending modern and old together. I like both the Willis building and the Tudor house and would love to have been able to look around both. Lovely to see the collection of Harvest produce even if it is in tins.
ReplyDeletePS I might be the only one but I also quite liked the modern take on the 'henge'. In Sheffield all the statues and structures celebrate the steel industry of the area.
Maybe I'll visit the Willis building another time, although looking round offices doesn't appeal very much.
DeleteThe concrete henge might have been OK if it had actually been on the original plans for the makeover and if it hadn't have started to fall apart less than a year after being erected.
I enjoyed seeing 3-5 Silent Street. I always love the older buildings. You mentioned this may be the only Silent Street in the country. Is there a special significance of that street name?
ReplyDeleteThe leaflet said it's the only Silent Street in the country. I thought "really? I was hoping that someone would say they knew of another somewhere.
DeleteMight have been by an old hospital?
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ReplyDelete"boyfriend of the time" Was he attractive? Happy memories of him? Sorry to be inquisitive! Roderick
ReplyDeleteI think the only reply to that is NOYFB!
DeleteHe left me for a bellringer!
Wow! Great places to see. Love the Tudor buildings. There are some lovely old ones in Ipswich. We visited one that used to be an inn (sadly even the shop that was there is closed now) and it was really interesting to look around.
ReplyDeleteMy Mum used to clean at the Willis building when it first opened. I personally think it's a pretty ugly building lol.
I'm already looking forward to seeing some more building next year!
DeleteSadly this year there was nothing open that we hadnt visited before locally and getting himself to travel is proving a chore , i rather wanted to visit the steam land drainage pumps but there was no disabled access
ReplyDeleteI liked going to Ipswich and remember eating at one of it's restaurants where I realized the salt was actually white pepper! Years ago when Phil and I were dating and in UK becuz we were based there in USAF. Good memories there for sure. I enjoyed seeing the older buildings. Tudor Inn. Nice but sad it's closed for good.
ReplyDelete