Great Eastern, 31 Station Road, Sudbury
Sudbury Public Houses
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Sudbury - Suffolk.
Built around 1849 by Robert Kirby (my Great Great Grandfather) soon after the Railways arrived in Sudbury. The bricks
were made locally in Ballingdon where Robert first started work. Same bricks
also used in the building of Royal Albert Hall and St Pancras station London.
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Sudbury Public Houses
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Sudbury - Suffolk.
Great Eastern, 31 Station Road, Sudbury
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A plan of Sudbury and the Eastern Hotel
Aerial picture of Sudbury showing the Great Eastern
Both kindly provided by Kris Mercer
The Stour Valley Railway from Marks Tey reached Sudbury in 1849
and the terminus was just behind Conrad End at the commencement
of the newly constructed Great Eastern Road. The large meadow
behind the south side of the Market Hill, where Mr Thomas Ginn
had recently built a fine terrace of houses named Bank
Buildings, was marked out with twenty two building plots. 'Very
eligibly situated close by the Sudbury Station, and near the
Market Hill in the centre of that flourishing and improving
town' said the poster advertising the auction to be held at the
Rose and Crown Hotel. It goes on:
From the proximity of this land to the station and the Town is
eminently adapted for the erection of Maltings, Mills,
Manufacuries and all buildings calculated for Mercantile
purposes ... every Lot have immediate access to the
railway by means of a tramway, and of the intended road upon
which it will abut.
Every lot was sold and Sudbury's first industrial estate was
established overnight. In 1865 the line was extended to
Cambridge, which meant crossing the Common land, and the money
they paid the freemen was invested in purchasing part of the
North Meadow and Great Fulling Pit Meadow. The new station was
situated closer to Friars Meadow and an avenue approach made to
link with the newly named Station Road. Between the old and new
stations was a large goods and shunting yard with train sheds
and an engine turntable.
Tram lines crossed Great Eastern Road from the goods yard to the
warehouses opposite. Sidings ran parallel with Cornard Road to
serve Oliver's brewery and Chilton brickworks with a spur line
going under the road and into the pit.
The station included the stationmaster's house, booking hall,
waiting room, goods office and a W H Smiths bookstall. ***
Residents at this address
1874/Robert Kirby/../../../Post Office Directory
1879/Charles Ewin Green/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/Thomas Kirby/../../../Post Office Directory
1900/Arthur Diggins/../../../Post Office Directory
1925/Arthur H Austin/../../../Post Office Directory
*** Provided By Kris Mercer
