Old Fishmongers - part 2

I know very little of the house’s previous history, although I recall reading that it might have been built for a squire, as the ceilings are quite high on the ground floor and it was once said to have been called Needham House.  The Fishmongers Arms was a 16^th Century inn, which closed as a pub in 1932.  For those who do not know the story of its name, I understand fish was sold in the forecourt of the inn as that was as far as the fish could be transported in a day from Lowestoft. I cannot confirm if this is true or not but it ties in with the name ‘Fish Needham’. There is a cellar, where kegs of beer were rolled in and kept and beer was brought up in a jug to customers. After it closed as a public house, I understand there was a tannery business in the outbuildings and pigs were also kept. It is written in the Deeds that alcohol is no longer permitted for sale on these premises; however this doesn’t stop it being given away!  

I think this type of house is typical of its time and built to a format, rather like a new Wimpey home!  The timbers were cut elsewhere and assembled on site.  On one of the mullioned windows there are marks cut into the wood to indicate the order in which they should be placed; that is one to five.  The oak timbers may have been recycled  from another building but others could have been from a scrapped or dismantled wooden sailing ship as the geometry and rake of the roof or floor beams can give the impression of a deck where the water rolled off as it sloped to each side of the ship.  I like the thought of  this romantic association with the sea -  it is very appealing.

In the sitting room the heavily smoked huge oak beam, extending the length of the inglenook fireplace, is called a bressumer and it is supported by thick outer brick walls. Horizontal ripples have been cut into the timber and there is also an X along with several other strange marks, whose purpose is said to be that of warding of witches to stop them coming down the chimney! Now, apart from the early eeriness probably created from imagination and the black beams, the house has never felt creepy to me and has always had a wonderful atmosphere of warmth especially when the candles are lit and the fires are ablaze.  But there is just one incident to recount when an internal curtain, separating two bedrooms, flew horizontally into the air late one night despite there being no breeze and no windows open! 

Some external and internal changes took place before we moved in. I believe the front door was originally more towards the middle of the house and not where the steps are now.  The original spiral staircase was also taken out and replaced by a new one, which had the effect of changing the layout of the sitting room. Upstairs the low ceiling timbers and door frames make it difficult to pass through if one is not accustomed to lowering one's head.  I wonder how many souls have bloodied their heads throughout the centuries?  

I have loved living here. The house is my refuge and I have been very happy . One can only ever be a custodian of a historical house and try to ensure the house’s survival, I hope we’ll succeed in this.  It has been been a privilege.  

Sue Simmonds