Churches in Ipswich

You probably know that we have 12 Medieval Churches in Ipswich town centre, seven are still used for religious purposes and of the other five, two have an alternative use, two should be in an alternative use by the end of 2023 and one is apparently 'for sale'. What you probably didn't know is that there are currently 85 active churches, of all ages, in Ipswich.

Medieval churches in use for religious purposes: the churches of St Margaret, St Matthew, St Helen, St Mary le Tower, St Mary Elm, St Mary Stoke, St Mary Quay.

Medieval churches in an alternative use: St Peter, music venue and usable community space; St Lawrence, town centre cafe.

Medieval churches being prepared for an alternative use: St Stephen, the former Tourist Information Centre, currently being adapted for use as a music venue; St Clement, a new floor recently installed, toilets imminent. 

Medieval church currently without a use: St Nicholas, currently for sale.

A separate but unconnected figure for your next quiz:  there are 478 Church of England places of worship in Suffolk*: 477 buildings, 457 of which are listed.

*excluding Lothingland which is in the Diocese of Norwich: 23 C of E Churches.

 

Primary school in Carr Street

You may wonder why the proposed primary school in Carr Street has taken so long to get started. The basic reason is one of cost. Although we are not privileged to the actual figures in this particular instance, a two-form intake school requires something like 2,500 square metres of floor space with new school buildings costing, on average, between £2,000 and £2,500 per square meter. We understand that the estimated cost for the project in Carr Street is close to £13 million. No wonder then that the Department for Education has been reluctant to press the start button. Clearly building on this particular site was always going to be more expensive than on a green field, but some of the additional expenditure was brought about by the 'conditions' imposed at planning, not least the requirement to 'save' the Harvest mural on the bridge over Cox Lane. 

Additional note

The proposed school in the old Co-op building in Carr Street is a Department for Education project, designed by Concertus – formerly Suffolk County Council architects – with Lanpro Services Limited as their planning guidance team. Planning permission, with a string of conditions, was granted by Ipswich Borough Council. As a design and build project the contractor has already been appointed, so has an interest. The completion date has now been set in time for the start of the autumn term, 2025.

NB: planning permission was granted in Oct 2021; conditions include: archaeological excavations; new foundations to 'bridge over' the remaining archaeological evidence;

a requirement for energy efficiency including PV (solar energy) panels providing electricity.

[See also the article on page 25. – Ed.]

 

George Paul

Our condolences go out to the family of George Paul MBE, who died in October 2022 aged 82.  George was head of the Paul family, renowned in Ipswich and throughout the agricultural world as ‘R&W Paul’, the name which still adorns the silo on Albion Wharf. R&W Paul had a successful business history becoming Pauls & Whites, then Pauls Ltd before being bought by Harrison & Crossfield in 1985 where George Paul was the Chief Executive. He later became Chairman of Norwich Union, steering the company through their merger with CGU, Commercial Union and General Accident, to become Aviva.

George Paul served as Deputy Lieutenant, High Sheriff and as President of the Suffolk Show, he was an active member and former chairman of the Jockey Club Estates, building the Millennium Stand at Newmarket and for 25 years was Chairman of the Suffolk Horse Society, ensuring the continuing success of the Suffolk Punch horse. A true Suffolk statesman.

JN