Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborow

Scarborow Optician - now a tea shop

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborow 2a

We cannot think how we have missed this little gem at the bottom of Dial Lane, however three days into 2011 we have corrected the omission. An Art Nouveau shop front, designed, we are told by an architect called Hooper, replete with Charles Rennie Mackintosh-style gates and pillars and a surprising letterbox with lettering. And this doesn't make mention of the stonework surround and the stylised capitals over the curve of the arch:

'SCARBOROW'

But, surely this is "Pickwick's" tea and coffee emporium? Formerly "Boodles", some say, or the "East Anglian Tea Company", perhaps. The fact that the stone threshold is so badly worn indicates that this entrance has been in use for a long time. A detailed inspection of the letter box to the left of the two front windows gives us:

'1 ^no SCARBOROW
LETTERS
OPTICIAN'

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborow 3a

The way in which the characters of the word 'Letters' curves round a tight circle on the flap is a delight. Again, the Art Nouveau metal work carrying the optician's company name shows wonderful attention to detail. The company still trades in the areaand presumably they moved away from such a clearly named building because they outgrew it. Is it too fanciful to see the two curving windows at the front as echoing spectacles?

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborrow 5

The ironwork gate not only follows the Mackintosh style in shape, but also in its use of an inset paler, blue-grey metal with a raised 'pierced heart/shield' motif spaced vertically on either side. This colour is picked up again in the nearby letter box. The vertical rods of the gate rise up to a perfect representation of a pair of spectacles set into a curved bar, pierced by a central spike. Scarborrow's didn't miss a chance to advertise their services and we learn that in Edwardian times these ironwork spectacles projected out over the lane from a lantern. The gate does not appear on the origianl drawings (shown below). The warm, pinkish minerals used in the small inset pillars contrast nicely with the cooler surrounding materials. The characters over the entrance seem to be metal, possibly incised into the wedge-shaped stonework blocks. This is no thrown-together or ersatz piece of architecture. The long shot photograph on the right shows that 'Scarborow' is barely a stone's throw away from 'The Ancient House' in Buttermarket in one direction and St Lawrence Church in the other.

[UPDATE February 2012: "I came across your site today and have some more information regarding Pickwicks in Dial Lane which I own.
The Art Nouveau alterations to the facade were designed in 1902 by JS Corder; an architect of some repute, having worked on Hintlesham Hall and many churches in the area. Incidentally we have a copy of the plans hanging upstairs in the shop. The building has remained in the same family since 1923. Hope this is of interest to you
Kind regards, James Cooper" Our thanks to James for his valuable contribution (see below).]
James Shewell Corder (1856-1922) was not so easy to pin down. In one citation, he is dimissed: "...about whome nothing more needs to be said". However, we came accross a biography on a Suffolk history website run by Ray Whitehand (see Links) which gives a good idea of his career. His mother Jane was from the Quaker Ransome family in the north east of England (which, of course, became a famous Ipswich name).
"... it is apparent his real love was in the old buildings of the borough. This is borne out by his meticulous and tactful restoration of Christ Church Mansion; and The Guild Hall in Lavenham." He was the author and illustrator of ‘The Corner Posts of Ipswich’ and ‘A Brief History of Christchurch or Withepole House’. There are over 100 commissions credited to J.S. Corder. It is speculation to say that Corder Road (off Gainsborough Road, near to Christchurch Park) was named after him, so we'll add it to our Street names index to await authentication.

Photographs of the plans from March 2012:

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborrow 8

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Scarborrow 6

We also learn from the top of the Pickwick's menu that the building dates back to the 16th century and is believed once to have been the office of the secretary to Thomas Wolsey, the Ipswich man who was born in nearby St Nicholas Street and was to become the second most powerful person in the kingdom.

Dial Lane, linking Buttermarket and Tavern Street gives a hint of old Ipswich. It was once known as Cook's (or Cook) Row and was home to the medieval version of fast food outlets. It became known as Dial Lane in the 19th Century. Our page on St Lawrence Church explains why. It is said that there are underground chambers beneath the lane which once led to the Carmelite priory which stood on the site of the present Buttermarket Shopping Centre.

Home

Please email any comments and contributions by clicking here.