eXplore… Historic Buildings

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Historic Buildings Bury St Edmunds

Bury St Edmunds is a town in Suffolk, England that is steeped in history. From the 1180 Moyse’s Hall, there are many historic buildings in Bury St Edmunds to explore.

The Hall is probably the oldest building in Bury St Edmunds and now houses a museum of local history. It’s one of the oldest domestic buildings still standing today and offers visitors an insight into life from centuries ago.

Other notable sites include Dragon Hall, Ely Cathedral, Elveden War Memorial, Knebworth House, Ickworth and Melford Hall.

Picturesque views can be found at Abbots Bridge and Angel Hill – both popular spots for visitors looking to take in the sights of Bury St Edmunds. The Norman Tower also stands as a reminder of its past with its impressive architecture.

If you’re looking for a unique experience that will take you back through time, then visiting some of these historic buildings in Bury St Edmunds is definitely worth it!

Sources:

The Corn Exchange

Historic Buildings. I’ve had a lovely evening at the Corn Exchange with 11 other group members who, until just over 4 hours ago were total strangers!

James, Dot, Anna & Ruth, it’s been lovely to meet you & spend hours drinking, chatting & laughing away the evening – much at James’ expense! 😀 No doubt our paths will cross again soon! Picked up some We Love Bury St Edmunds badges too! 🙂

Rupert Nye

Before retiring I worked in the office of Suffolk West Federation of Women’s Institutes based out at Park Farm in Fornham St Genevieve.

In this capacity part of my job was to meet and greet our guest speakers at our Annual Meeting which were held in the Corn Exchange (before it became Weatherspoons) and more recently at the Apex.

I therefore met several famous people including Ann Wddecombe, Simon Calder, Adam Henson (of Countryfile fame) etc etc.
They were all interesting to meet in various ways but the nicest person I met was Sheila Dibnah, third wife of Fred Dibnah (steeplejack and steam engine enthusiast).

She told us a little of her previous life as dancer but the most interesting stories were about her unusual life with Fred. She was very pleasant to deal with and grateful to me for looking after her.

Simone Ruddock

My friend Helen and I were walking in the Abbey Gardens. These group of guys asked us about the town.

They said they were the group Judge Dread and were performing at the Corn Exchange that night and if we could come they would get us in for free.

So we did, afterwards they came back to my house and mum made them all beans on toast. We would have been about 16 at the time ☺

June Crossman

I’ll start with the library which was in the middle of town, this is where my never ending love of books began from the age of 4, once a week we would be taken to choose books from Enid Blytons to Pippy long stocking lol.

As I grew up other buildings featured more in my life, I had my first secretarial job in the surveyors department at shire hall, great place to work, and great people to work alongside, many a high jinks would occur in the drawing office, and many jokes on us young girls – like can you get me some sky hooks from the stores, and yes I fell for it, but I got my own back with a cream cake to said persons face, I made many friends while there, it was such a shame when they decided to move to Ipswich and eventually closed.

The Corn Exchange was great for rollerskating and meeting up, and of course upstairs dances, it was where many of us met future husband’s and boyfriends, music was usually good, makes you want those times back lol

The Athenaeum, was for posh dances and wedding receptions, It didn’t figure much in my childhood, but later for antique sales and craft shows, my grandparents went ballroom dancing in their time, so it has seen plenty of life…we are fortunate to have these lovely buildings in our small town…

Jane Millar

Cupola House

Cupola House re-emerges as rebirth of landmark Bury St Edmunds building edges nearer completion – great article by Chris Shimwell in the East Anglian Daily Times with photograph taken yesterday from Jacobs Allen Chartered Accountants offices. Looking forward to seeing more of the building revealed!

Thady Senior

The scaffolding is starting to come off Cupola House. I asked one of the (ground level) workmen when it was to open and he responded “I dunno mate, I’ve only been here 2 days”.

John Goldsmith

Cupola House today – this time against a blue sky. Some of the scaffolding is coming down. Does anyone know what the weather vane is supposed to depict? It looks like a hand on one side …

Thady Senior

Cupola House this morning, 12-05-2016. The inscription on the Weathervane says TMS 1693.

Rupert Nye

The Old Fire Station

Gibraltar Barracks

I have had quite a connection with the army in Bury over the years.

My dad served with Royal Artillery in WW2, being in the T.A. before and after the war. I used to love going to the drill hall in Kings Road, we had great Christmas parties there.

In the summer months we went on a trip to the sea side, bus loaded up with beer and soft drinks for us children, we always stopped half way, on the bus we were given envelopes with 5/- spending money and 10/- for dinner and tea.

When I was older I met a few soldiers from Blenheim Camp never daring to tell dad as I was warned to stay away from soldiers (can’t think why).

We met some at Mrs Elliot’s dancing classes, one of them became my husband, of course I had to tell dad about him eventually, and glad to say they got on very well. My grandson joined my husbands old Regiment and served two tours oh Afghanistan, and I proudly watched him on parade at Gibraltar Barracks.

Carole Marlow

Moyses Hall

Seeing all these wonderful photo’s of Bury in the olden days should be copy and put on show in moyses hall for every one to see.

Paul Baldwin

I lived in Bury St Edmunds for over 40 years and moved to Campbell River on Vancouver Island at the end of 2008, until then I had never heard of Sybil Andrews, she was born at what was Andrews and Plumptons hardware store at the top of Abbeygate Street.

She is a very highly acclaimed artist over here and some of her work can be seen in Moyses Hall museum and her fantastic tapestry that is hanging in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, finished over here and apparently posted to the UK !! The last photo is of market day in Bury which she done from above from a window in Moyses Hall.

Mark Honeyball

In 1626 the Bury St Edmunds Guildhall Feoffees, looking for economy and efficiency, acquired Moyse’s Hall. Moyses Hall was conveyed to the Feoffees by deed, dated 27th January, 1626, according to the Borough list of charities in the council yearbook for 1896/97.

The sellers were described as “Collins and his daughters.”

The Feoffees aim was to integrate their Poorhouse, previously located in Whiting Street, and moved to Churchgate Street in 1622, with the House of Correction and a Jail.

Moyse’s Hall and adjacent buildings now performed all these functions on one site.

So, from 1626, Moyse’s Hall was used as the Bridewell by the the Borough Magistrates. It would later become the Police Station, and so was a lock-up, of one sort or another, until 1892.

Gary Thompson

What is the history of Moyses Hall how long has Moyses Hall and the clock been there, the large tree can get in the way when you’re trying to see what the time is, the tree was not there in 1970s/1980s..

Peter Elliston

The Norman Tower

I can remember in 2009 taking my 2 girls to the Angel hill to see the queen when she came to give out maundy money.

Think they were more interested in watching the guards on top of the Angel tower and Norman towers.

Sam Cornish

Alphotobet

Every ones in camera set,

photographing the alphabet,

Doesn’t matter where you go,

it’s camera,

phone or video,

People looking in strange places,

seeking out gargoyle stone faces,

Doorways,

daffs great big trees,

skating when the arc did freeze,

The nutshell pub so small,

the cathedral stately and so tall

The Norman tower edifice,

the Abbey gate we mustn’t miss,

So much more to go,

and were only up to O,

It’s keeping every one amused,

when we get to Z what will we do James I’m sure will think of some scheme,

because He’s very keen,

So carry on keep on snapping,

you won’t catch wlbse napping

One thing I’m at a loss,

when I look at the logo all I see is #asbestos.

Les Hopton

So here’s my story: in the short time I’ve been in Bury St Edmunds I’ve joined the Multicultural Women’s Group, taking part in their Taste of Culture and One Billion Rising events which involved serving up some Jamaican food and Breaking chains on Angel Hill!

Had a bell ringing lesson in the Norman tower, went on a wolf hunt, a night time stroll around Bury in my pyjamas with a few hundred ladies and met the devil in the Nutshell.

I also joined the Bury Film Society and Bury Theatre Workshop: played a nasty General in a play Up the Pole performed in the Unitarian Meeting House (yes that’s a real gun).

But the best experience (and scary) was performing on stage at the Theatre Royal in the Duchess of Malfi! Enjoyed seeing the Miles Davis film, Protein Dance and the amazing Diary of a Hounslow Girl as part of the Bury Festival. Looking forward to the Whitsun Fayre. Alot goes on in this town init

Nemonee Stone

Oast House

The Old Bus Station and Bus Depot

The Old Police Station

The Quaker House

The Railway Station

The Unitarian House