The Ancient House

The Ancient House, Ipswich, otherwise called Sparrowes House, is a Grade I recorded building dating from the 15^th century situated in the Buttermarket zone. In 1980 the building was gained by Ipswich Borough Council. The building sports itemized pargeting, and furthermore expand wood carvings around the front of the house. Four boards of pargeting demonstrate a Tudor impression of the world. The mainlands Africa, America, Asia and Europe are demonstrated - eminently inadequate with regards to Australia which was not found at the time.

Africa is spoken to by a bare man holding a lance, Asia by a pony and a mosque-like building, Europe by a lady with a steed and a congregation like building, and America by a man with a canine at his feet. The front of the working as it tends to be seen today in a reestablished state, was not a unique element of the building - it was later included by Robert Sparrowe somewhere in the range of 1660 and 1670. It bears the Royal Arms of King Charles II, and the words "honi soit qvi mal y pense". This is old French for "disgrace upon him who considers insidious it", and is likewise the proverb of the Order of the Garter.