Purcell was commissioned to reconstruct this grade 1 listed timber frame building after a devastating fire destroyed all but the basement and parts of the main façade, and parts of the ground, first and second floors. The primary significance of the building had been in in its communal and aesthetic value, as a pub and a restaurant in the heart of Bury St Edmunds’ historic market area. The building has been recreated to capture its interior and exterior character through a scholarly reconstruction. Areas that were completely lost were reconstructed using modern materials, while those where historic fabric survived were reinstated using traditional materials, techniques and skills. Wherever possible, salvaged material was reinstated, around a new steel frame concealed within the building envelope, to allow the continued use as a restaurant. The 17th century building layout had to comply with modern standards so the central oak staircase has been enclosed with glazed screens to create a fire sterile escape route from the upper floors.