ISAAC LORD MERCHANTS QUARTER has undergone significant improvements
over recent times, & in November 2009 this restoration, refurbishment &
conversion of Isaacs Wherry Quay was recognised by the Ipswich Society
— as shown at the bottom of this page …
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Isaac Lord was a local businessman who bought this site on Ipswich's Waterfront,
from the Cobbold brewing family in 1900. Some buildings date from the early 15C to
late 18C, reflecting the site's commercial and industrial use over 4 centuries.
During the period of Cobbolds ownership, some buildings were used as a Maltings,
and a pub called the Wherry Inn was on the site. In 1930, Reginald Cooper joined
Isaac Lord’s business, helping to grow the firm’s corn & coal interests, and eventually
becoming the owner of the property.
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The various buildings are :-
Merchants House, Fore St, Ipswich
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Built in 1636, it carries that date on the carved bressumer (main beam). Probably the
last surviving example of a 16th~17th century Ipswich Merchants house, with warehouses
at the rear opening directly on the dock front. Merchandise was unshipped, stored and
distributed wholesale, or sold retail in the shop on the street front.
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Sale Room
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Ipswich was one of only 4 authorised wool centres in East Anglia (the others being Norwich,
Lynn and Yarmouth in Norfolk) and the Isaac Lord buildings were probably the commercial
premises for the exporting of wool and the wholesale trading of imported goods. It's a
particularly fine industrial building with a crown post roof and double set of pegged collars,
giving a large open area where it is thought finished cloth from the surrounding Suffolk
weaving villages was gathered for sale, and then exported to Europe and beyond.
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Crossway
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As a delightful example of a heavily studded oak framed structure with herringbone panels,
it has been dated stylistically as 1530~50, subsequently confirmed by dendrochronlogy
(tree ring dating). Its impressive roof is constructed with large rafters and curved wind
braces. Stout tie beams with heavy oak braces complete the structure, expressing the
importance of both the wool industry and the merchant who constructed it.
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Malt Kiln
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It was derelict before restoration in 1984, when it was converted in a pioneering step,
into a pub known as the Vodka Bar, and has now become a feature of the developing
Waterfront social scene.
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Wherry Lane & Buildings 1 - 7
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This part of the Isaac Lord complex is currently let to various businesses ~ e.g. the John Russell
Art Gallery at 4-6.
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for PDF versions of above 2 images, click
Award or
EADT
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