IPSWICH UNITARIAN MEETING HOUSE

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The Building

The Meeting House measures 60 feet by 50 feet with a ground area of 2,800 square feet. The ceiling is is 22 feet high. The building stands on brick plinths, with timber-framed stud walls. The double-pitched hipped roof is tiled and supported by four wooden columns, traditionally said to be ship's masts. Each of the three doorways is surmounted by an elliptical lunette, and the other windows in the north, west and east walls are square-headed with two lights, divided by a transom. Much of the leaded glass is original. The circular windows high in the south wall, and perhaps the rounded heads of the windows below them, may date from the major restoration of 1900.

Externally, the walls are plastered. At the eaves, a wooden modillion cornice doubles as a gutter on the east, west and north walls. The door-cases have elaborate pediments and surrounds, each with its own pair of carved brackets - doves and cherubs on the north side, foliage on the east. The forecourt north of the Meeting House, now opening on to Friars Street, was originally a burial ground - opened in 1806. The area to the east is one of the few remaining courtyards that were once characteristic of the Ipswich townscape. The buildings on the south and east sides of this courtyard predate the Meeting House. The southern range was adapted as meeting rooms for the congregation in 1975, replacing a hall that stood in the courtyard from the late 19th century until this time. The 'upper room' of this range has a particularly fine array of roof timbers.

The Meeting House reflected in the walls of its neighbouring grade 1 listed building, Willis' head office