IPSWICH THINGS TO DO
Pykenham’s Gatehouse – open to the public
The Ipswich Society at Pykenham’s Gatehouse, Ipswich
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Information - Pykenham’s Gatehouse – open to the public
If you missed it on Heritage Open Days, you have a last chance to view Pykenham’s Gatehouse before it closes for the winter. Ipswich Society volunteers are opening the gatehouse on Saturday October 5th from 10.30 – 12.30. It is free and open to all – do come and take a look.
Situated in Northgate Street opposite the Library, this building has stood since the last decade of the 15th century. It is arguably the oldest secular building in our town. Many, many generations of Ipswich people have walked past, looked up and wondered about the room above the gate just as we do today. This is surprisingly large with two big windows – there would have been an excellent view of the town’s north gate from the east window. An access hole has been driven through the south wall of the room to accommodate the 16th century annexe on the south side. Access is still this way today via a modern staircase. So what of the 15th century? A hidden medieval staircase was found inside the north wall of the room when the Ipswich Building Preservation Trust renovated the gatehouse in the 1980s.
The two volunteer stewards are very knowledgeable – they can tell you about Archdeacon Pykenham himself, the stories told by the external carvings on the inside of the gate, and the questions which remain about the original purpose of the building.
