Historic home said to have been visited by Dickens for sale

An historic Ipswich property which is said to have been visited by Charles Dickens is up for sale for £1.25 million. 

The Old Neptune Inn on Fore Street is a Grade II* listed medieval merchant’s house and one of the oldest residential buildings in Ipswich. 

The property, close to Ipswich waterfront, was originally a 15/16th century hall house, which was extended in 1639. 

In the 18th century, it became the Neptune Inn. Over the years, it was visited by sailors and smugglers and, it is said, Charles Dickens. 

It fell into disrepair in the 1900s, but was transformed by local businessman George Bodley Scott, who bought the property in 1947 and subsequently restored it sympathetically. Today the property retains historic features such as an inglenook fireplace, timber walls and ceiling mouldings.

The current owners run the property, which was previously a private family home, as a self-contained holiday rental. 

Beyond the Old Neptune Inn’s façade on Fore Street, there are three floors of accommodation set around a central Italianate courtyard. 

The main accommodation runs along the west wing of the property.

The drawing room features a large inglenook fireplace (Image: Courtesy of the vendors) Here there’s a drawing room with a large 17th century inglenook fireplace, a double height dining hall with timbered walls and ceiling, and a spacious farmhouse-style kitchen.  

The dining hall has timbered walls and ceiling (Image: Courtesy of the vendors) Above the main living areas is the principal bedroom suite with timbered vaulted ceiling, along with three other en-suite first floor bedrooms. There are two further en-suite bedrooms on the second floor. 

The principal bedroom has a vaulted ceiling (Image: Courtesy of the vendors) In the east wing, which is connected to the main house but could be separated as an annexe, there's a sitting room, kitchen/dining room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. 

There are four further flexible use rooms which are accessible from the courtyard. These have previously been used as income generating self-contained studio flats, but they are currently configured as en-suite bedrooms.  

All of the furnishings, curtains and pictures can be included in the sale, subject to valuation.

Outside, there’s a paved Italianate courtyard, which is ideal for entertaining, with shrubs and borders and a central fountain.

There’s parking space for three to four cars by the rear entrance. 

The property's façade on Fore Street in Ipswich (Image: Courtesy of the vendors) The Old Neptune Inn is situated on Fore Street, a stone’s throw from Ipswich waterfront, and within walking distance of the town centre, the train station and several of the town’s parks.  

For more information, contact one of the joint agents, Jackson-Stops and Christie & Co. 

PROPERTY FACTS 
The Old Neptune Inn, Ipswich
Guide price: £1.25 million 
Jackson-Stops/Christie & Co, 01473 218218/07860 189708 
jackson-stops.co.uk/christie.com