History revealed in refurbishment of offices for estate agency

Local estate agents Palmer & Partners will be in a new Ipswich home later in the year - a home with a long history.

Palmer & Partners are currently in Queen Street, in the heart of Ipswich town centre.

And they are planning to move just a few yards to the corner between St Nicholas Street and Queen Street, to a new fully refurbished office.

No 2 St Nicholas Street is a historic building, which is now being fully refurbished and updated for its new use.

The scaffolding has recently been taken down.

John Palmer said: “It is a lovely old building and it is starting to look good.

“At one time it would have been a private home and it has probably been a lot of different businesses over the years.

“We are trying to research its history, and would love to hear from anyone who can help us with information.”

Most recently the building was the home of Ajax Domestic Spares and at one time it was a Chinese restaurant.

It would have had a number of different uses previously.

John took me inside, where renovation work is now moving on rapidly, exposing ceiling timbers and old red brick walls and fireplaces.

“These lovely old timbers were covered by false ceilings,” he said.

“We think the building must be 400 years old,

“This is a fairly extensive refurbishment and we want to make sure we get it right,” he said.

During the renovation a small business accounts book was found, that had been lost between the walls.

The book records accounts for Eric Larter Ltd, Resi-Cafe Ltd, from 1959.

Anyone with any information about the history of the building is welcome to contact John Palmer at the office in Queen Street on 01473 217900.

The plan is for Palmer & Partners to move into their new home during the summer.

Palmer & Partners are also in Colchester and Sudbury.