Christchurch Park
Ipswich IP4 2BE

This Tudor home is the jewel in the crown of Ipswich’s historic past. Period rooms are presented from the sumptuous Georgian Saloon to the more humble Victorian wing with its displays of children’s toys and dolls house. Not only does it house a large collection of paintings by Gainsborough and Constable but also those of artists inspired by the beautiful landscapes of East Anglia.

A shop stocking high quality traditional gifts and books and a Tea Room adds to the attraction of this mansion which is only 5 minutes walk from Ipswich Town Centre.

Opening Times:

November - March
Tues - Sat 10.00am - 4.10pm
Sun 2.30pm - 4.10pm

Open most bank holidays except Good Friday, 24 - 26 Dec and 1st Jan

Contact: Tel. 01473 433554

Christchurch Mansion is a fine Tudor building set in an ancient and beautiful park close to the centre of Ipswich. With historic room settings, outstanding paintings and furniture, and also the modern Wolsey Art Gallery with changing contemporary exhibitions, it is one of the most important visitor attractions in East Anglia.

Artists through the centuries have been inspired by East Anglia and the Suffolk landscape. Christchurch Mansion holds a wide collection of oil paintings, water-colours, drawings and prints by Suffolk artists from the 17th century to the present day and includes the most important works outside London of Suffolk-born artists Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable. Other artists include George Frost, Tom and Edward Smythe, John Moore, Thomas Churchyard, Alfred Munnings, F G Cotman and Philip Wilson Steer.

Anne of Denmark attributed to J de Cruz

The Tudor and Stuart portraits cover one hundred years of English history from 1570 to 1681. Most of the people in these portraits were involved in the political, military or religious conflicts of their time and wielded considerable power and influence. Apart from members of the Royal family, most of the sitters in this portrait collection are gentry connected with Suffolk.

British pottery and porcelain on display include tin-glazed earthware (delftware), soft glazed stoneware, creamware and pearlware. Lowestoft porcelain, manufactured in the Suffolk coastal town from 1757 to 1799 and designed in imitation of Chinese wares, was a more expensive product aimed at the local market.

Few of the objects at Christchurch Mansion are original to the house. They have been acquired as gifts or bequests from generous donors, or purchased since the house became a museum. A number of overmantels, panels, painted plaster and other architectural features have been saved from destruction during the demolition of timber framed houses in Ipswich during the 1920s and 1930s.

Chests, classic examples of simple and ornate tables, chairs, stools and cupboards are shown in period room settings. There is a large collection of Mendlesham chairs traditionally supposed to have been made in the Suffolk village of that name.

The State Bedroom

Christchurch Mansion was the site of the Augustinian Priory of the Holy Trinity founded in the twelfth century. The Round Pond and Wilderness Pond are fed by natural springs and supplied the monks with carp, tench, roach and gudgeon.

In 1536, during Henry VIII's reign, the Priory was suppressed and its estates seized by the Crown. Paul Withypoll, a successful London merchant, bought the site in 1545 and in 1548 his son Edmund began to build a house on the ruins of the Priory.

Early 19th century Drawing Room

Throughout its long history, Christchurch Mansion belonged to only three families. In 1645, the estate passed to Elizabeth, wife of Leicester Devereux, who was the only daughter and heir of Sir William Withypoll.

In 1735, the house was sold to Claude Fonnereau, a wealthy London merchant, of Huguenot decent. Either he or his son Thomas made alterations in the early eighteenth century. A new wing was built on to the north-east corner to contain a drawing room downstairs and a magnificent state bedroom upstairs. The bedroom contains some outstanding rococo plasterwork incorporating the Fonnereau coat of arms.

In 1892 Christchurch Mansion was bought by Felix Thornley Cobbold who presented it to the people of Ipswich. It was opened as a museum in 1896.

The Hawstead Panels

The 'Painted Closet' above the porch is composed of panels originally from Hawstead Place, near Bury St. Edmunds, the house of Sir Robert and Lady Drury. The closet was created for Lady Drury, who probably painted the panels herself. She was a niece of the court painter Nathanial Bacon, and knew the poet John Donne, whom she commissioned to write an elegy on the death of her only child in 1610.

Christchurch Park

Christchurch Park was opened to the public, free of charge, in 1895, but it had been enjoyed by Ipswich people since at least 1724. Until the end of the nineteenth century sheep could still be seen grazing in the park although the small herd of deer had by that time disappeared. The Fonnereau family frequently hired out sections of the Park for community events and it is still well used for music, arts, fairs and events.

The park today is a town centre oasis, with many attractions both for people and wildlife, including a bird reserve, arboreta, croquet lawns, bowling green, tennis courts and children's play areas.

Christchurch Mansion is open Tuesday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm (closes at dusk in winter) open Sunday 2.30 to 4.30 (closes at dusk in winter) opens bank holiday Mondays.
Admission free