Christchurch Mansion & Gainsborough House
Discover Ipswich's historic past and visit the beautiful Christchurch Mansion. See period rooms from the sumptuous Georgian Saloon, to the more humble Victorian wing with its displays of children's toys and dolls houses.
A must see gem is the Painted Closet above the porch. It is composed of panels originally from Hawstead Place, near Bury St Edmunds. See the collection of British pottery and porcelain including Lowestoft porcelain, manufactured in the Suffolk coastal town from 1757 to 1799.
The art collection on display in the Wolsey Art Gallery includes oil paintings, water-colours, drawings and prints by Suffolk artists from the 17th century to Thomas Gainsborough and John Constable. Other artists include George Frost, Tom and Edward Smythe, John Moore, Thomas Churchyard, Alfred Munnings F G Cotman and Philip Wilson Steer.
Gainsborough’s House is the birthplace museum of Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788~), one of the greatest painters in the history of British art. More of his paintings, drawings and prints are on display at the house at any one time than anywhere else in the world.