Bury St Edmunds Suffolk Hotel

A former Commercial & Family Hotel and posting house, the current building dates from 1833, when it was rebuilt and changed its name from the Greyhound to the Suffolk Hotel. The original Greyhound building dated back to at least the 16th century. According to Alfred Hedges' book, "Inns and Inn Signs of Norfolk and Suffolk",

It is sometimes claimed that the nearby abbey owned the house as early as 1295 and although the precise date may be open to dispute, there is no gainsaying the fact that it was owned by the monks, for at the Dissolution in 1539 they surrendered the property to the Crown. It was subsequently leased at a yearly rental of £5 6s 8d to Thomas Brown, who combined his trade of mercer to that of innkeeper.

The larger coaching entrance was blocked up before 1880s (see early pictures). The horse drawn coaches on the right then took the hotel guests to and from the railway station.

In 1912 it is also described as having a motor garage & pits on the premises.

The building is now used as retail premises.

A report in the Ipswich Journal** on January 20th 1750 recounts:

Lost on Thursday the 11th day of January instant from the parish of Alpheton near Long Melford, Suffolk-one dark colour'd roan filly between 8 and 9 years old-about 15 hands high-long mane-short tail-spavin on off leg behind-blind in off eye-had on when left a bridle and saddle with a green saddle cloth. Whoever gives notice of the above mare to Mr Bezar Blundel at the Greyhound Inn in the Butter Market, Bury or to Thomas Paulston at the Kings Head, Lavenham or to Mr Joseph Pawsey of Alpheton shall be well rewarded for their trouble. By me Joseph Pawsey.

Suffolk Shades was located to rear of premises for some time in more recent times.

Sadly one person now said to haunt the building is a woman, in life a doctor, who committed suicide here in 1981 and still has a lasting prescence in room number 63!