7 Northgate Street, Ipswich, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

7 Northgate Street is a historic corner building in the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk, whose oldest part dates from the 15th or 16th century. It is best known for its wooden corner post, which looks much as it would have done in Tudor times, even though much of the rest of the building has changed.

The story behind it

The corner section of the building goes back to the late medieval or Tudor period, and it may well have served as an inn in those years. What is on firmer ground is that records name it the Royal Oak in the 17th century, so it was part of the town's public life long before the street looked as it does now.

In the 19th century the building was converted into a family home and was significantly altered. Much of the exterior was reworked over the years, which is why it can look like a mix of periods. The timber corner post is the part that has come through with the least change.

What to look for

• The wooden corner post is the feature to find first, as it appears much as it would have in the 16th century.
• Look at how the building turns the corner, since its position on a street junction fits with the idea that it once worked as an inn.
• Compare the old timber with the rest of the exterior, and you can see where later alterations changed the look of the building.
• Notice the surrounding buildings on Northgate Street, which show how the street has been rebuilt and adapted over the centuries.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about ten minutes to look at the building from the street, longer if you want to photograph the corner post from several angles.
• Daylight shows the timber detail best, so a bright morning or afternoon is a good choice.
• Check whether the building is open to visitors before you go, as it is best treated as something to see from the outside.
• It sits in central Ipswich, so it is easy to combine with other stops on foot.

See it on a quest

A Walk Through Tudor Ipswich: Wool Merchant’s Journey Walking Tour & Escape Game passes this building as one stop on a longer route on foot through Tudor Ipswich. The app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you, which makes you look much harder at details like the corner post. You can start whenever you like with no guide and no group to join, and one ticket covers the whole group.