'The Christopher', Ipswich - 1610s

[sugarbakers]

I'm trying to find the location, in St Nicholas Parish, Ipswich, of 'The Christopher', the dwelling house of William Blois, merchant and sugar refiner, close to which was his sugarhouse from 1617 to his death in 1621/2. The family seat, however, was at Grundisburgh.
I found no reference to 'The Christopher' at the Ipswich RO in the short time I had at the end of my last visit.

Some background ...
As a merchant, William Blois not only traded goods locally along the east coast, but also ran a ship 'The Esperanse' between England and Newfoundland, with calls at ports in Portugal, Spain, Italy and France. As a refiner, or to be more accurate, the owner of a sugarhouse, his business was short-lived, but is probably the earliest in the country to have such excellent documentary evidence. One of its two 'Great Books' (accounts books) is held at Ipswich RO and I've transcribed the sugarhouse-related content at  www.mawer.clara.net/loc-ipswich.html  .

Names of some of the employees ...
Rennouls, Isam, Debedge, Bud, Wyssop, Foply.

Bryan.

[cati]

According to the National Archive, 'The Christopher' was later known as 'The Mansion House' (this isn't the same as Christchurch Mansion)

Not much help, I realise, but it might be a little useful.

[sugarbakers]

Thank you, Kate ... another name, a little later, and more to work on.

Bryan.

[Greensleeves]

From the National Archives, a reference from the accounts of William Blois (d. 1673), states

" 14th May, 1652: I and my wife .....   removed to my brother Bacon's in Ipswich, the house anciently called the Bull, after the Christopher........... in which house my grandfather and grandmother, my father and mother, ended their lives, in which all my grandfather's and father's children were born....."

So presumably the house was also known as The Bull at some point.

Regards
GS

[sugarbakers]

Many thanks, GS.

Bryan.

[Greensleeves]

I've been trying to find online details of the bounaries of St Nicholas Parish.  No luck yet though, unfortunately.   Not sure if there has been any recent demolitions  in that area (I left Ipswich in 1988) but would have thought - barring any modern-day developmental barbarism - there might be a fair chance of the building still surviving, albeit in altered form.

[Keziah2]

Just a thought - could it have been an Inn?   'Christopher' patron saint of travellers, The Bull - good old English pub name   Admittedly The Mansion House sounds like something a bit grander.

The English Heritage website has a list of all Listed Buildings in Ipswich www.english-heritage.org.uk if it has survived it could well be listed.

Good luck
K

[sharonmx5]

I've been trying to find online details of the bounaries of St Nicholas Parish.  No luck yet though, unfortunately.   Not sure if there has been any recent demolitions  in that area (I left Ipswich in 1988) but would have thought - barring any modern-day developmental barbarism - there might be a fair chance of the building still surviving, albeit in altered form.

I would have thought the chances of finding that it still survives are pretty remote.  That area is heavily redeveloped.  Unless it was actually on St Nicholas Street or one of the odd Tudor houses still dotted around but I would have thought it a remote chance.

[hepburn]

Any help ??


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