Thomas Cobbold, a maltster, started a brewery in Harwich in 1723. In 1745 the brewery moved to The Cliff in Ipswich. In 1895 the Cobbolds built a new tower brewery on the site (which is currently on the architects drawing board for restoration and conversion, details in the next Newsletter). In 1957 the Cobbolds merged with Tollymache to form Tolly Cobbold, but unfortunately brewing ceased in the early years of this century.

However, given that 2023 marks 300 years since Thomas Cobbold first started brewing, the event will be celebrated in Holywells Park on Saturday 24 June (Holywells Park was the likely source of liquor (the water for brewing) for the majority of those 300 years – and the home of five generations of Cobbolds for over 100 years. The Ipswich Society will be running one of many stalls in Holywells Park on 24 June, do pop along.

Other attractions on the day include music by the Silbury Hill duo, a local Morris Dancing group, a story-teller, vehicles from the Ipswich Transport Museum, models of Holywells House and a beer ship (Ardella), a beer tent, a hog roast and vegan/vegetarian food.

33rd Ipswich Beer and Cider Festival.  If talk of brewing has wetted your whistle, remember that there will be a Beer Festival in St Clement’s Church during the last week of July (Thursday 27 to Sunday 30). The Briarbank Bar & Brewery are organising the event and they are promising beers from a wide range of other producers.

Ivan Cutting, Artistic Director/CEO of Eastern Angles has asked that we mention that their successful Work Furnace project, which we covered in the January Newsletter (Issue 232), is being funded by Historic England. We are happy to add this information.