Building record IPS 2046 - 29 Westgate Street, Ipswich

Originally built in 1562, possible an original part of Seckford House and redeveloped/altered over time (visible through he photographs of existing brick and dividing walls (S1). Hand-drawn plans of the building show the interior structure and exterior shape of the building as well as highlighting notable features through annotation (S1). Two building phases were identified during a building recording during the removal of walls and remodelling of 29-33 Westgate and 1-3 Museum Street. The first phase appear to contained two main north-south walls, with a passage contemporary to a cross wall, which divided the building into two separate rooms. The cross wall appeared to have a centrally placed fireplace, with a link between the northern and southern rooms through a doorway lying to the west of the fireplace. Phase 2 identified by the southernmost room being made small by inserting a new wall in an east to west directed between the two main north south walls of the first phase, blocking access to the wall and the fireplace. There are indications the passageway was retained during this period. This dating of these phases are problematic as they are all of Tudor brick construction and appear to be composed of re-used bricks. Based on the evidence, the period of construction and modifications are probably representation of modifications made in the 17th and 18th centuries to the original Seckford House. The remaining modifications to the structural layout are probable alterations made during the Victorian period, possibly following the cutting of Museum Street through he western flank of the former Seckford House (S2).