Demolition work has started on a 19th century pub in Rushmere St Andrew.
The Garland in Humber Doucy Lane, which closed in February 2015, is being knocked down and replaced with four detached, four-bedroom houses.
No objections were raised by residents before planning officers from Ipswich Borough Council approved the scheme last November.
John Norman, chairman of The Ipswich Society, said: “The pub was at one stage popular, but it hasn’t been for the last 20 years. It has simply gone the way that most pubs have sadly. It is merely one of a number going in exactly the same direction.
“It was popular in the 1960s, 70s and even in to the 80s, because of its isolation. But given the current housing crisis and the housing stock, it is an important development and it is almost inevitable that we will get some quality housing.”
Mr Norman said pubs are facing challenging times partly due to supermarkets “undercutting” them.
He said: “People buy alcohol in supermarkets and drink it at home now. They are selling them cheap and undercutting licensed premises.
“But some pubs are finding success in becoming gastro pubs and a lot of pubs are now restaurants rather than pubs. The Ipswich and East Suffolk branch of CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale) have been really successful in establishing real ale pubs and their beer trail (which ends on July 4) has been attracting lots of customers.”
Construction work started late last week. The history of the pub, which was once known as the Rushmere Greyhound, traces back to 1847. According to CAMRA, a report in the Ipswich Journal on August 14 that year stated: “Lot 2: The Greyhound, Rushmere, in full trade let to Mr Baker at £12 a year.”
The pub had changed its name to The Garland by 1927.
Nigel Smith, Suffolk area organiser for CAMRA, said: “As the Rushmere Greyhound, it traded throughout the Victorian era and one of the first, if not the first, publicans was Thomas Baker, who is listed at the pub for over 20 years from 1841.
“But modern housing encroachment in that area of town and ever spiralling house prices seem to have forced the loss of yet another local public facility.”
Martin Blake, director at SEH Developments, owners of the housing development, said: “The Garland was a very popular public house 30 years ago, but it has not traded well for a decade or more.
“While it is sad to see the building demolished, four new dwellings which are very much needed in Ipswich will be built in the next year.
“The properties will have four bedrooms (two with an en suite), a family bathroom, a kitchen diner, lounge, cloakroom, conservatory and an integral garage. They are a modern design and will sit well in the street scene.”
To register an interest, call Blake Mayhew Estate Agents on 01473 222202.
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