Ipswich St Stephen?s converted church

Image: © Adrian S Pye Taken: 27 Oct 2007

Now utilised as a tourist information centre, access is through a doorway beneath the west tower, (to the right is a large niche). The roof is 16th century braced tie-beam with king and queen posts. There are large carvings of flowers at the intersections of the purlin and principal. The chancel roof is single hammerbeam construction of the same period. Various stages of restoration and modernisation have taken place over the centuries but the building retains its charm, despite the hubbub within. There is a memorial in the chancel to Robert Leman and his wife Mary who both died the same day in 1637. “The same sun that closed her eyes in the morning shutting up his in the evening.” The Royal Arms of Charles II are very fine and hang high above the heads of the visitors.

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