Fore Street/Fore Hamlet junction

Identification of locations in old photographs can pose a challenge. This view came from Tony Hill's research documents into Fore Street and we had trouble pinning it down until Tim Leggett posted the image on the Ipswich Society's Facebook page.

Justin Grimwood, to whom our thanks, responded with not only a location, but proof in the form of a map:

“I think it's Fore Street, corner of Back Hamlet/Fore Hamlet with Holy Trinity in the background. William Tunstall, Grocer, Provision Merchant, Tallow Chandler lived at 137 Fore Street and a map of 1881 shows letter box and lamp-post in correct place.”

The 1881 map of the meeting of Duke Street, Back Hamlet, Fore Hamlet and Fore Street clearly shows these features. The most surprising thing, to many who don't know the history of the junctions at this point, is the long finger of buildings projecting westwards into Fore Street. So much so, that the Social Settlement would have been largely invisible from the southern side. Everything - until the twentieth century road widening schemes - is closely-built around narrow thoroughfares.

The comparison map from 1902 indicates changes, but it is only when we superimpose one on the other (an approximate fit) that we see the differences clearly

Tim Leggett has provided a 2015 view of this scene, using the scant identifiable features which remain today (see below).

It looks very much as if the shop run by W.T. Trodd which is at the narrow end of the 'finger' projecting into Fore Street has closed down by the time of this old photograph. The election posters promoting Ridley may suggest a more accurate date for this scene. The ropemakers' cottages (which today include Offord's Newsagents at number 132-4 Fore Street) can be seen at the right hand side, although it looks as if any timbering is covered up with cement or plaster. Today the black and white frontage is a recognisable feature at this location, with its bressumer above the ground floor level dated '1620'.

See also Fore Street maps showing Listed buildings and Public houses.