What about its history?

The Tudor house, one of the largest in Colchester and situated at the east end of the long High Street near the Castle, was bought by Isaac Boggis, a successful bay maker, for £420 in 1731.

After some difficult trading years the house passed to his son, Thomas, also a merchant. He rebuilt and modernised parts of The Minories turning it into an elegant Georgian residence. The architect chosen for the remodelling was probably John Alefounder (1732-1787).

After long occupancy of the house by the Boggis family, some of whom still live in the area, The Minories then, from 1821 to 1915, had several owners and tenants. One of those tenants was a German refugee, Dr. Becker, a GP in Colchester. His son, Harry, lived for a time with him, learning his trade as a painter of the countryside; he then became one of East Anglia's most renowned artists.

74 HIGH STREET, COLCHESTER, ESSEX, CO1 1UE.

www.theminories.co.uk

Site produced by Evelyne Bell and designed by Sophie Baker. Copyright ©2006 Friends of the Minories.