Angel Hotel, Bury St. Edmunds

Grade II* Listed historical family hotel & posting house. A building of this name dates back to at least 1452. By 1550 Sir Thomas Jermyn of Rushbrooke had sold it to Nicholas Plat (of London) who subsequently sold it (together with the Castle) to William Tassell in 1553. In 1557 both businesses were given to the Guildhall Feoffees (a public body whose function was to administer local charities). Soon afterwards the Feoffees joined the businesses under a single sign - the Angel. In 1582 the Feoffees sold the Angel to Rogger Potter & his wife Elizabeth who ran the inn for 35 years. In 1617 Katherine, the grand-daughter of Roger Potter conveyed the inn back to the Feofment Trustees who then held it without break for 360 years (until 1917) - for a "decree of charitable uses". In 1774 the inn was surveyed by a Mr Redgrave with a view to rebuilding the premises. The Feoffees subsequently raised 2000 pounds to rebuild the inn which was completed by 1779. Coaching became of increasing importance to the in from 1739 from when they advertised a stage from Norwich to London vis Bury. In 1823 Pigot's Directory the Royal Mail coach is listed leaving leaving daily for London at 3pm, The "Day" coach was leaving daily for London (via Sudbury, Halstead & Chelmsford) at 12 (noon), & other coaches to Cambridge (via Newmarket) were leaving daily at 2pm & to Norwich (via Ixworth & Scole) at 2.30pm. By the 1840s the inn was served by the "Surprise" (a cut price London service) the "Old Bury" (a popular London service) & the "Hope" (to Yarmouth). (information from Old inns of Suffolk by Leonard P Thompson) Former Posting & Commercial House. A report in the Ipswich Journal** in Apr 1840 states that : Announcement: On the 18th in her 32nd year, after a long affliction, in a deep decline, Mary Anne, eldest daughter of Mr Bridgeman, of the Angel Inn, Bury. A report in the Ipswich Journal*** on 01 Oct in 1856 states that The Angel Hotel, Bury - Funeral Establishment; "Funerals 10s, One Horse 5s, including drivers." A report in the Bury & Norwich Post** on Oct-31in 1876 when W G Guy was the landlord reports that an "All night licence granted on the occassion of the County Ball." Photographs of this pub and more historical information about it can be found at suffolk.camra.org.uk/pub/118