Owners of Blue Ivy Hotel wanted to keep Thompson Smith and Puxon law firm as part of their new venture

The lawyers of Thompson Smith and Puxon spent their days fighting for justice in the large two-storey building, which dates back to 1809.

Many generations of several different families became part of the successful firm, and in 2013 they decided they needed to move into new premises.

But law books still line the walls of their former office, because the new owners were determined to keep the firm’s long history as part of the building.

James Monroe and Carl Blanchette opened boutique hotel Blue Ivy last month, with 17 rooms, a bar and a restaurant, both of which are open to the public.

James said: “It will always be known as Thompson Smith and Puxon. We’ve tried to keep its original character.

“The lawyers were still in here when we looked around. Every room had three of four desks in it. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into one building.”

The business partners decided to keep all the small rooms, so it’s easy to imagine its old life as an office. They have also kept all the fireplaces and bookcases, which are still lined with law books.

In a bid to keep the law firm at the heart of the new business, Carl and James also decided to name each of the main public rooms after past or current partners. They will become Puxon, Wilson, Porter, Thomas, Price, Cooksley, Webb and Fedeyko.

Steve Webb, one of the current directors of the law firm, said: “We are all delighted the building we occupied for many years in North Hill has been converted into such a fine hotel, something the town has been crying out for.

“It is quite strange to find a four poster bed in a room that had been your office only a couple of years before but the quality of the conversion is exceptional and we wish the owners of the Blue Ivy every success.

“It means a good deal to us as a firm that they have managed to keep the Victorian feel of the building, and a legal theme, and that they are naming the rooms after directors, or former directors, of the firm.”

• Thomas Graham Wilson answered an advertisement for an assistant solicitor and became a partner in 1948. His sons went on to become directors of the firm.
• Jim Porter joined the firm in the mid-1950s and became a partner 1959. His father, Dick, also worked for the business, and his son Richard is now the HR director and an employment solicitor.
• Richard Thomas joined the law firm in the early 1970s and was appointed partner in 1976. He became a senior partner and left in 2000.
• Marcus Price is the head of the family law team. He joined as an articled clerk in 1979 and became a partner in 1985.
• Mark Cooksley joined the firm in 1988 and became a partner two years later. He retired in 2013.
• Steve Webb leads the firm’s litigation team. He joined in 1990 and became partner in 2001.
• Mary Anne Fedeyko, who leads the firm’s business services team, joined the firm in 1991 and became a partner in 2001.