It was a fire that changed the face of Buttermarket in the early 1990s, leaving a gaping hole in a Suffolk town centre.

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

It was August 1992 when the disaster struck, with an electrical fire starting in Hughes.

Ipswich Star: Shoppers and residents look on at the smouldering ruins of the Ipswich town centre building from behind safety barriersShoppers and residents look on at the smouldering ruins of the Ipswich town centre building from behind safety barriers (Image: Archant)

It wasn’t long before the blaze had spread along the street, engulfing Aldertons shoe shop and The Bookstall Shop.

Ipswich Star: Many of the buildings were left as structural skeletons following the fire that ripped through the heart of IpswichMany of the buildings were left as structural skeletons following the fire that ripped through the heart of Ipswich (Image: Archant)

Crews from across the county battled with the fire for several hours before bringing the flames under control.

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

They managed to save Ancient House, a Grade 1 listed building, parts of which date from the 15th century, which is now home to Lakeland. However, a number of the neighbouring buildings suffered severe damage, leaving them almost unrecognisable.

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

The fire came just months before the Buttermarket Shopping Centre opened.Do you remember how the events unfolded that day? Were you visiting the town centre at the time? Send us yout accounts and photographs, via email

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

For more nostalgic photographs showing the history of the town, including from our archives and those shared by the public, search for our Ipswich Remembers Facebook page.

Ipswich Star: Safety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildingsSafety officers inspecting the damage to the structure of one of the Buttermarket buildings (Image: Archant)

Ipswich Star: The fire that destroyed Hughes, Aldertons shoe shop and a bookshop in The Buttermarket, IpswichThe fire that destroyed Hughes, Aldertons shoe shop and a bookshop in The Buttermarket, Ipswich

Ipswich Star: The blaze was a few buildings from the Ancient House, a grade one listed building, parts of which dated from the fifteenth centuryThe blaze was a few buildings from the Ancient House, a grade one listed building, parts of which dated from the fifteenth century