The Ancient House
THE ANCIENT HOUSE, 30, BUTTERMARKET
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1037756
- Date first listed:
- 19-Dec-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Ancient House
- Statutory Address:
- THE ANCIENT HOUSE, 30, BUTTERMARKET
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2004-08-08
- Reference:
- IOE01/11171/15
- Rights:
- © Mr Luke Barber. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1037756
- Date first listed:
- 19-Dec-1951
- List Entry Name:
- The Ancient House
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE ANCIENT HOUSE, 30, BUTTERMARKET
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE ANCIENT HOUSE, 30, BUTTERMARKET
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Suffolk
- District:
- Ipswich (District Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TM 16381 44545
Details
1. 1260 BUTTER MARKET (South Side)
No 30 (The Ancient House) TM 1644 NW 1/30 19.12.51.
I GV
2. Also known as Sparrows House, after the family which was responsible for its magnificent early C17 pargetting. It was built originally in tile C15 and re-adapted or rebuilt in 1567 by George Copping, who sold it a few years later to the Sparrow family, in whose possession it remained for over 200 years. It is a very fine building, well preserved, with much of its original detail intact. A timber-framed and plastered house. 2 storeys and attics with a jettied upper storey. There are 4 fine rounded bay windows on the north front and one on the west front on St Stephen's Lane, with leaded lights and arched transoms in the centre lights. The panels below the bays have pargetted figures representing America, Africa, Asia and Europe. Between the 1st storey bays there are pilasters on pedestals with more decorative pargetting. The centre panel has a coat of arms. The ground storey has continuous windows (C20) between the carved shafts which support the brackets of the projecting 1st storey. A timber-framed and plastered wing, extends south in St Stephen's Lane. 2 storeys with a jettied upper storey with a moulded bressumer. Part of the 1st storey has exposed timber framing. 3 window range, (2 casements with leaded lights and one double-hung sash with glazing bars. There is a small courtyard at the rear with a jettied upper storey with exposed timber-framing with ornamental bracing and continuous mullioned and transomed windows with leaded lights. Roof tiled, with 4 large gabled dormers on the north front on St Stephen's Lane, with pargetting in the gables, and a heavy projecting eaves cornice. The interior is also very fine with ornamental ceilings and a fine staircase with twisted and moulded balusters. The 1st storey has a great room 46 ft long with a panelled ceiling with heavy plaster ornamentation. There is also some panelling and an original fireplace. ANM.
Nos 18 to 30 (even) form a group with Nos 21 to 41 (odd).
Listing NGR: TM1638144545
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 275410
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 10-Jun-2026 at 14:35:35.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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