I’ve chosen the above title to explain how the business of Isaac Lord, Corn and Coal Merchants, together with others, pioneered the transition and development.

My name is Stuart Cooper and I had the pleasure of working for Miss Irene Lord (daughter of Isaac Lord) and my father, Reginald Cooper, from 1962.  I was invited into partnership in 1978 and one of my responsibilities was to find new uses for our long warehouses, which were used for storing sacked grain prior to cleaning or drying.  They had become redundant as more and more farmers harvested in bulk and used storage bins instead of sacks.  Many ideas were tested including creating a storage facility for toys imported by our neighbours, General Cargo Brokers, and one year we stored the sultana crop from Cyprus for Whitworths.  These and many other ideas were too labour intensive as all the goods had to be manhandled through the long floors, and competing open warehousing using fork lift trucks was substantially more cost effective.

The catalyst for the dramatic changes that took place was the Maritime Year of 1982 and this report seems appropriate forty years on. During the year-long celebration, the Ipswich Maritime Trust was formed and a highly successful exhibition was created in Pauls Maltster’s Home Warehouse. The founders of the Trust were, Alan Swann, Colin Meek and John Lamming, all local businessmen with whom I worked closely in developing ideas and formulating plans for more development of what was hitherto a declining and, in some parts, derelict area.  Tall ships from the Baltic and Northern Europe converged on Ipswich Dock prior to making their way to the Tall Ships race starting in Falmouth.  During this momentous year, visitors came from far and wide, and for the first time, many admired the mix of interesting and historic architecture around the Dock. One of these tall ships, a two masted schooner named Stina, enquired if they could moor on our quay frontage for several weeks in preparation for their trip to the south-west. This was a major step in our plans for upgrading and creating an appealing appearance, although I incurred considerable opposition from Ipswich Port Authority, operators of the dock. Understandably, their mission was to operate a commercial port, but the size of the lock gates limited the increasing size of vessels visiting Ipswich. Incidentally, it’s interesting that the subsequent port operators, Associated British Ports (ABP) developed and own one of the two marinas within the dock complex. The other marina, Neptune Marina, is the brainchild of the aforementioned Alan Swann and family.

Incidentally, the original Dock Act of 1840 contained a clause that allowed the ‘people of Ipswich to enjoy the air and perambulate’ around the Dock.

Our first modern day conversion took place during Maritime Ipswich ’82 by creating an office overlooking the Dock for a sail training company run by Pat Abbot.  Other redundant parts of the building were converted to a showroom for a pine furniture company, Pine Ultimate.

 Isaac Lord in transition: Stuart is on the right, alongside Cllr Peter Gardiner, Mayor 1984-1985.

St Katherine’s Dock in London was being developed and my wife, Georgina, and I visited the Dickens Inn in the centre of this interesting scheme.  Although a wet and windy day, the inn was buzzing with activity and we knew a public house facility would help kick-start development in Ipswich.  We had within our buildings a redundant malt kiln, which faced the Wet Dock. It was in desperate need of renovation and, being listed, Ipswich Borough Council was closely involved and granted planning consent for conversion to a public house. Prior to World War II there were several public houses around the dock and indeed one within the Isaac Lord curtilage known as the Wherry Inn.

The pub and restaurant was opened in 1984 by the Mayor of Ipswich, and became a very popular leisure facility.  The investment required to convert the building was substantial for a small family business and we take pride and satisfaction that this development together with various other activities, including the creation of a venue for the John Russell Art Gallery, pioneered the development of the dockside leading to what is seen today.  Major developers saw the interest that was being created and so began the construction of residential apartments around the enclosed water. For our part, we continued to repair the long warehouses and bring them into sustainable modern day use by creating eleven suites of offices on the upper floors.  None of this could have been achieved without enormous support from the whole team at Ipswich Borough Council. Successfully converting sensitive, historic listed buildings involves not only foresight but also massive co-operation from all those involved. Not least among our supporters over many years has been The Ipswich Society, which has played such an important part in the overall progress of the waterfront. I am proud and privileged to record that we received from The Ipswich Society three Awards of Distinction for our restoration over the years.

In 2004 we had completed our repairs to the west side of the site and the frontage to Fore Street, where one of the timbers in our old office was dated, through dendrochronology, to 1419 potentially making it the oldest secular building in Ipswich.  By this time, we had exhausted our family resources and although our bank were willing to help fund development of the east side we decided it was time to find someone more able to continue our work. 

Our sales agents worked tirelessly to find a buyer that could progress our ideas and also create a revenue stream to support this incredibly important complex.  Aidan Coughlan, a successful local businessman, expressed not only his interest in the historical nature of the site but also his vision to sustainably take the development forward. And so ‘Isaacs’ was born.  The variety of bars, restaurants and even wedding venues in the most architecturally attractive parts of the building, give great satisfaction in what we started over forty years ago.

Stuart Cooper

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