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Issue 174 Newsletter Jan 2009 


Contents: 

• Editorial: Economic Consequences

• New Members

• Chairman on Current Affairs

• Recent Planning News

• The Society's Annual Awards

• Planning Our 50th Anniversary

• News in Brief

• Listed Building Demolition - Facts!

• Becoming a Tour Guide

• The Old Museum Rescued

• An Architect's Work

• New Year: New World

• River Gipping Trust

• Waterfront Update

• Archive of Public Sculpture

• Ipswich Historic Churches Trust

• Snippets

• Heritage Open Days

• Volunteers' Rota at St Peter's

• How Civic Centre is Demolished

• New Work in Upper Brook Street

• Chelmsford Cathedral, etc.

• Suffolk Local History Council

• Waterfront Archaeology

• Your Committee and Events 


Editorial: Economic Consequences

I wrote the previous Editorial in early September. Since then the Trans-Atlantic Bubble has burst, 

creating global economic mayhem. Consequently some of the matters which our Society is 

interested in are bound to be affected. I'm not an expert by any means but here are some comments 

which you might like to think about. 


Since job losses are so evidently happening, the creation of new jobs must be a major aim. That 

presumably made it obvious for the Government to give final approval for SnOasis. They couldn't 

refuse the injection of so much private capital into any local economy. So whether or not you like 

the scheme - and it will have an impact on Ipswich itself - the decision must have been inevitable. 

Conversely perhaps, might the financial squeeze on local authorities mean that Central Government 

will have cold feet about the short-term financial consequences of reorganising local government in 

Suffolk, so that we'll stay as we are? We shall not find out till April at the earliest, a delay of several 

weeks on the intended timing. 


On the retailing front, even my sober-sided daily newspaper produced a front page headline 

"Bloodbath on the High Street". That was specifically about the demise of Woolworths - which 

incidentally makes the future of the Mint Quarter even more obscure. But the threat to other major 

shops and the economic viability of town centres was spelt out. Towns will be fighting towns for 

customers to an even greater extent. 


Now in a world where many people have the transport to be able to choose where they spend their 

money, it is surely right for the Evening Star to produce Go Ipswich, a special supplement pointing 

out the wide range of attractions in Ipswich. And it is surely right for Ipswich Central, the town's 

association of traders, to appeal to shoppers to buy here in Ipswich. If something markedly superior 

can be bought elsewhere, then nobody could fairly say, don't go. But other things being equal, 

supporting the economy of one's home town is not so very different from joining The Ipswich 

Society to support the well-being of the town. 


I hope you'll find much of interest in our Newsletter, such as our Awards (more controversial than 

usual?), our Chairman on discussions about traffic, and the planning for a very special year, 2010. 

Neil Salmon 


Chairman on Current Affairs

You may remember that we advised you of a date in early September to put in your diaries for an 

important meeting about transport around the Waterfront and how it should be managed. In the 

event that meeting did not take place and was re-scheduled. It did take place on 18 November. 

It was a meeting at the Novotel funded by Suffolk County Council, the body responsible for roads, 

but sponsored and supported by The Ipswich Society and the Ipswich Waterfront Partnership. The 

purpose of the meeting, which ran from 9.30 am till 1 pm, was to explain the proposals made in the 

Buchanan Report, jointly commissioned by SCC and IBC and to examine any other views and 

proposals as to how traffic could/should be managed around the Waterfront. 


John Norman, who has a particular interest in how students will get to Suffolk New College and the 

University, gave a clear opening talk which set out the problems. A representative of Buchanan took 

us through their report and explored the reasons for their conclusions. The meeting then broke up 

into small groups to discuss specific issues. Much attention was directed to the needs of various 

road users, including cyclists and pedestrians, as well as "a comfortable urban environment" and 

how various schemes might impact on the quality of life, as well as economic development and 

regeneration. 


It was a very useful meeting and a wide range of backgrounds and views was represented. At the 

time of writing, the official note of the views from the various groups is not available, but in the 

main I believe the view was that Buchanan was on the right lines. Watch this space. 

Our editor, in the last Newsletter, drew your attention to our forthcoming 50th birthday in 2010. 

Your committee is pursuing various ideas about how this might be celebrated, as you will see in 

Tony Marsden's article in this issue. We are very hopeful of publishing a History of The Ipswich 

Society, the preparation of which has been going on for over two years. If you have any thoughts on 

ways to mark the occasion, please contact any member of the committee. 


The new UCS building on the Waterfront is now open and in use. As part of the University's 

commitment to close relations with the local community, it has announced a series of free public 

lectures organised by its History Department. The first of these was a very interesting talk about the 

archaeology of the recent Waterfront 'digs' as described later in this Newsletter. The whole 

programme and, on principle, any other public lectures at the University deserve to be supported. 

Since our last Newsletter we have learned that SnOasis has received Government approval. 

Although not within the Borough, it will have an immense impact on our town, which is why we 

responded fully to the initial planning applications. Opponents are hoping the credit crunch will 

prevent the development but it doesn't seem so at the moment, with the developer promising an 

almost immediate start on the project. 


By the time you read this, Christmas will have come and gone - I hope it was an enjoyable time, 

although perhaps a more frugal one than of late. 

Jack Chapman 


Recent Planning New

Proposed Tesco development, Commercial Road/Grafton Way 

Spenhill, Tesco's property company, have held a public consultation concerning this large site which 

they now own. It extends from Stoke Bridge and Princes Street Bridge to the east and west 

respectively, and the river to the south. Tesco do not own the business sheds 5 to 15 next to Princes 

Street, nor the skateboard park. Thus it consists of Fabric World, B&Q and its car park, and all the 

former railway property. 

Their proposals are as follows: 


• A Tesco about the same size as Copdock's with a car park under and above the store. 

• A five storey riverside apartment block, social housing on the ground floor and duplex apartments on the upper floors; a total of 147. 

• A riverside boulevard with dedicated pedestrian and cycle ways. 

• At the east end, above the storm reservoirs, two hotels. 

Their rationale is that there is no large supermarket in central Ipswich for the increasing population 

over the next few years; its presence will stop people driving out to one of the peripheral stores; 

they intend parking to be free for the first three hours so that shoppers will park, walk to the town 

centre and back to Tesco's to do the big one and then home. 

There are major problems with the site: contamination from the railway yards: a 132,000 volt cable 

runs the length and will have to be moved; construction over the storm reservoirs. 

The Environment Agency insists that the flood level is taken as the existing level and this means 

that all habitable buildings must be one storey up. 

The scheme as many of us saw it is not unattractive. It is unlikely there can be a dismissal under 

development plans. However, there will need to be many changes and conditions before it is 

acceptable to the Society. Finally, we were told that they planned to open for late 2010, but they 

haven't applied for planning permission yet and some archaeological survey will be needed. In the 

face of the current retail recession this timetable seems unlikely. 

  

Broadmeadow (former sugar beet factory site), Sproughton Road 

The Ipswich Society is strongly of the opinion that a mixed but predominantly residential 

development is by far the best option. The advantages of the supporting infrastructure (schools, 

shops, health centre, care home) together with hundreds of houses will eventually lead to a 

community with heart. To ensure its move towards local sustainability some employment 

opportunities should be provided on the site. 

But this development will be a major traffic generator. It is essential that a scheme to provide easy 

pedestrian, cycle and possibly a small bus route to the centre of Ipswich and the railway station 

should be constructed by upgrading the existing river path. Otherwise there will be unacceptable 

increases on the Bramford Road axis which will spill over on to the AI4/AI2. 

This type of solution would provide some answers to Ipswich and Babergh's housing needs. But we 

think it highly unlikely Network Rail would install a junction on its busy main line as there are 

already ten train movements an hour. And we should not be attempting to solve the problems that 

others have with the management of containers by using this land close to Ipswich town centre that 

could be highly useful otherwise for real employment or housing. The Society will object to a 

container storage depot in the event of such an application. 

  

Former Civic Centre (Westgate Centre): erection of mixed development to provide 21,152 sq 

m of new retail space and cafe/restaurant with 11 new dwellings, extension to existing theatre, 

associated car parking, etc. 

The Society's response to this actual planning application is very similar to what we said about the 

outline plans at the public consultation (see October Newsletter pp 10-11). We broadly welcomed 

the scheme and noted its proximity to many bus services which would make it less dependent on car 

use. We queried the role of the public arena and regretted that the developers had not (yet?) been 

able to buy the whole site for an overall scheme. The key matter is the retail space, our comments 

on which are worth repeating: 

"This is the most controversial aspect and it is difficult to foresee what it should consist of and what 

its effect would be on the viability of the existing town centre shopping which we are very 

concerned about. But in any case we advocate a high quality development which would enhance the 

appeal of Ipswich town centre as a whole, bringing more people into Ipswich for their whole range 

of shopping in both the new and the older shops. This might suggest a good quality department 

store in view of its very large proposed size and multi-storey nature. In these increasingly difficult 

times for the retail trade we feel the developers may be optimistic in filling all the space." 


But we have also added: "We do like that you propose to demolish the undistinguished 1960s 

buildings on the south east side of Lady Lane which will ensure a notable entrance to the new retail 

quarter." 

  

'Shed 7', Orwell Quay/ Duke Street: erection of 6 storey academic building, including ground 

floor restaurant and student union 

Shed 7 is the southern part of the temporary car park on Orwell Quay, the eastern side of the dock. 

The site belongs to DCS and will be developed in three stages as student numbers and income 

allow. It will be separated from the recently approved accommodation on Duke Street by a 

boulevard. Escape from floods will be by a bridge to that accommodation block. The Society 

recognises the anxieties of the Environment Agency especially after the Tewkesbury and Hull 

floods but we question the need for an escape bridge in view of the height from the ground and the 

likelihood of a flood barrier. The proposed new building is the work of RMJM Architects, designers 

of the existing UCS building, and it has been designed to stand alone until the second phase is built. 

  

Adastral Park 

Although outside the Borough boundary, this huge proposed development by BT (2000 new homes 

plus innovation park) would have a profound effect on traffic flows in eastern Ipswich. For this and 

other reasons "we believe this application is premature and is of such importance that it should be 

'called in' and dealt with by a planning enquiry." 

The outcome of previous planning applications: 

Neptune Quay, extension to Salthouse Harbour Hotel- we supported it; granted planning 

permission, with a Section 106 condition of £26,000 contribution to education and transport. 

  

1 Cobbold Street, erection of flats - permission granted for what we thought was too high and 

bulky in this area. 

  

55 Westerfield Road, demolition of existing building and re-building of 5 flats. This further 

application was approved despite objections from over 100 local people, the Conservation Advisory 

Panel and our Society. 

  

19 St Margaret's Green, new building for 76 student rooms and commercial/retail space - we 

preferred the previous plan but this second application was approved with no changes, beyond a 

management plan to control the students! 


The Society's Annual Awards

(held in St Peter's on the Waterfront, 12 November) 


This was the first time our Awards evening was held in a building which itself was about to receive 

an award. But that's to anticipate. The hundred or more people were welcomed by our chairman, 

Jack Chapman, and by St Peter's manager, Bernard Westren, who drew attention to the Ipswich 

Charter hangings and the wonderfully informative display boards of the history of the church, both 

exhibited in the north aisle. 


Our MC was Chris Wiltshire who began by saying goodbye. He meant this would be his final 

presentation after doing it for six consecutive years, nine years overall. As there were a pleasing 

number of members who hadn't been to an Awards evening previously, Chris explained that he was 

representing the views of the judging panel, very aware that they were looking at professional work 

and reputations, but needing to be straight and critical where necessary. The Society is pushing for 

excellence in design so that "not too bad" or "only what's to be expected" would no longer serve as 

criteria. Ipswich, like the rest of Britain, had just come to the end of a boom in development with a 

goodly number of schemes nominated by members. In the circumstances, the judges were rather 

disappointed. Too many interesting schemes were let down by their execution and were not truly 

outstanding. 


Introducing the thirteen nominations, well illustrated by photos taken by Tony Hill and Chris 

himself, he began with two churches, reminding us that Ipswich is very well endowed with 

medieval churches - more than anywhere else after York, Norwich and Bristol. The churches have 

now finally found new uses. (See article elsewhere in this Newsletter.) 


St Lawrence interior. Conversion of this church into a popular caf still leaves a good sense of its 

having been a church, now with modern lighting, new floor and monuments well preserved. 

However, the judges regretted the amount of clutter - perhaps necessary but hardly conducive to the 

setting. 

St Peter's. The judges were impressed with the restoration of this stately and historically important 

church, although less enthusiastic about the new chairs and the bare bulbs in the otherwise good 

lighting. 

St Peter's, 'Angel Gates' in south porch by Paul Richardson are imaginatively designed - but how 

would the lustre wear? University Campus Suffolk new building. This was warmly welcomed. The 

building fits in interestingly with its disparate neighbours, its reception areas are impressive, the 

adjacent concourse opens up the dockside successfully and with good street furniture. But there 

were reservations - the original design had a more noticeable slope facing the dock, with bigger 

windows and more colour, and the judges hoped that the sedum roof would stay green at the top in 

dry weather. 

College Street, Wolsey Apartments. Excellent brickwork on this big new building of character. 

The shop units with bold cornices are fine, but will they be used? 

The Albany, Tuddenham Road. New houses, probably good to live in and will suit the market but 

considered to be 'Victoriana-lite' and unremarkable in design. 

The Reg Driver Visitor Centre, Christchurch Park. It sits very well in its surroundings and has a 

welcoming feel, although the end block is too severe. 

75 Grimwade Street. Student accommodation next to the 'Captains' Houses', one of the best groups 

of old houses in town. The judges found this new building's style of rectangular glass unsuited to 

this very special location. 

Christchurch Park, Round Pond and adjacent area. The original fish pond for the priory was 

'tamed' for the later gentry. It was good to see new railings (though rather bland) and new coping 

stones. The nearby Horseshoe Pond is perhaps too heavily fenced. 

Garrett Anderson Centre, Ipswich Hospital. A valuable addition for A&E and Day Surgery. A 

monolithic block 'softened' with unnecessary surface detail, especially the thin struts which a 

builder ironically said would "stop the wind from blowing it over". Nice vertical windows beside 

the main doors but less successful at the back. 

Reynolds Close, 12 new flats. This was thought to be a very pleasant small scheme of two-bed 

flats with basic materials well used and good brickwork. 


Pickford House, 30 Charles Street. A new development on an awkward sloping site, attempting an 

18th century terrace-effect but with smallish windows (Building Regulations to blame) and dormers 

out of proportion. 


The Awards were then presented as follows by the Society's President, Councillor David Hale, 

Mayor of Ipswich. 

HIGH COMMENDATION The Reg Driver Visitor Centre, Christchurch Park. Client Ipswich 

Borough Council. Design by Randall, Shaw & Billingham. Contractors V A Marriott Ltd. 

COMMENDATION St Peter's Church. Clients Ipswich Hospital Band, Ipswich Historic Churches 

Trust and Ipswich Borough Council. Design by Nicholas Jacob Architects. Contractors R G Carter 

(Ipswich) Ltd. 

COMMENDATION The Wolsey Apartments, College Street. Clients Braceforce Ltd. Design by 

Wincer Kievenaar Architects. Contractors Braceforce Ltd. 

COMMENDATION University Campus Suffolk, Waterfront. Clients University Campus Suffolk. 

Design by RMJM Architects. Contractors Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd. 

Finally, Jack Chapman thanked Chris Wiltshire for his many intriguing presentations with a 

"refreshing brand of honesty and humour" and he also thanked Russell Nunn for organising the 

Awards scheme and the help provided by Su and Tony Marsden. Most people stayed on for a chat 

while enjoying the drinks and the excellent food provided. 


Planning Our 50th Anniversary

2010 sees the 50th anniversary of The Ipswich Society. A small sub-group of the Executive has been 

set up to arrive at the best and most appropriate ways in which we should celebrate. This article is to 

inform members of our intentions and to call for further ideas for consideration. We also wish to 

enrol, even at this early stage, any member who may wish to contribute to the events which we have 

outlined. The sub-group will be at the centre of planning and organising the celebrations, co-

ordinating the events, keeping members in the know and informing interested parties who wish to 

draw our story to a wider audience. 


Our objective is to look back at the time during which the Society has existed and draw attention to 

matters which have been notable in those times. We would also want to reflect on the ways in which 

the town has developed, with particular reference to the preservation of old buildings and how we 

have helped to ensure that new buildings have been of high quality. 

  

Some examples of the ideas suggested; 


• The AGM in April 2010 will start the celebrations, which should continue throughout the 

summer. The outset or the conclusion might be accompanied by a commemorative 

Newsletter. It is suggested that a set of summer lectures with a buffet of wine and cheese be 

organised for members during May, June and July. These would require the participation of 

some excellent speakers; suitable individuals or groups might present some or others of the 

following subjects: 


• At the outset - the post-war and 50s scene. 

• The 60s - the 'pop' decade. 

• The 70s and 80s - overview - what went wrong? 

• 1990s - overview of the decade - recession and after. 

• The noughties - the Waterfront decade. 

• Fifty years of planning, UK and local. 

• Awards Evenings over the years, linked in perhaps with hits and misses. 

• What we have lost - things we have let slip - big errors/gaffes - what we should have done. 


The Heritage Open Days in September would provide an opportunity for major promotion in some 

of the most important and popular places. The October lecture would be themed towards the 

anniversary celebration. The November Awards Evening would go as planned. For the close of our 

celebrations we should hold a formal dinner in early December at a venue in the town. This might 

include an address by a worthy supporter of civic societies or a notable national figure: this could 

supplant the December lecture for 2010. 


It is proposed to inform the local TV channels. The BBC programme Inside Out (our regional 

interest programme) would be informed for the production of features during the year, or perhaps a 

programme in our own right. Similarly the commercial channels - ITV, Channels 4 and 5 - might be 

interested in such a project. Equally important would be any radio interest from the wide range of 

programmes currently broadcast locally and nationally. Our newspapers would be presented with 

the opportunity to feature the Society and articles would be placed in the Borough's publications, 

Waterfront and district magazines. 


A poster campaign, including a range of features/posters throughout the year might be mounted - 

after the AGM commencement - posters in Grafton House, museum, libraries (main library window 

display), schools, Tourist Information Centre, St Peter's, St Lawrence - all to highlight the work of 

the Society. The website, which undergoes a regular update, might be given a make-over. Our 

Corporate members might become involved in some way. Perhaps they might come up with a 

celebratory theme? 


One final idea - and this perhaps the most important of all- is for the Society to initiate or support 

some scheme which the town needs and which would constitute a lasting legacy. The Executive 

Committee is considering what would be appropriate and affordable. 

This article is offered as an initial prompt for the planning during 2009. Members who wish to 

participate in any of the ways mentioned above or in novel ways yet to be suggested should contact 

the Hon Secretary, Caroline Markham. 

Tony Marsden 


News in Brief

New bridge linking Voyage (Fairview's estate in Ranelagh Road) with Ipswich Village and the 

town centre should be useful and a striking feature visually.

New book, The Gifts of Frank Cobbold, describes the pioneering life of Francis Cobbold 

(1853-1935) in Australia, etc. Another member of a remarkable family! To be reviewed later.

Ipswich Arts Association lunch-time lectures at Museum Street Methodist Church (1 pm). The first 

two are on Railways in the Ipswich Area by John Day (12 Feb) and on Cor Visser, Artist, Sailor and 

Tutor, by Sheila Dobey and Brian Jepson (9 April). 


Listed Building Demolition - Facts!

I recently attended a meeting at which it was stated that Ipswich was still demolishing its Listed 

buildings. I found this astonishing, remarkably ill-informed and frankly an insult to all those 

owners, occupiers, councillors and council officers as well as local bodies like the Ipswich Historic 

Churches Trust, Ipswich Building Preservation Trust and English Heritage who over recent years 

have worked so hard to conserve the heritage of the town. I then thought that perhaps we have not 

made the official position clear enough and that the statistics might be of interest to Society 

members who might also care to challenge such myths when they encounter them. 


Controls on demolition of Listed buildings were admittedly weak after the war (when the numbers 

of officially protected buildings were much lower) but have become progressively more effective as 

we approach the present day. Two key local turning points were the Council's 1974 designation of 

the Central Conservation Area and the 1987 Conservation Strategy, which has been followed ever 

since. 


The Conservation Service has evaluated the loss of every Ipswich Listed building since 1955 and 

the figures are as follows;


• 1955-1964 : 18 demolished

• 1965-1974 : 22 demolished -- Central Conservation Area declared in 1974

• 1975-1984 : 4 demolished

• 1985-1994 : 4 demolished

• 1995-2004 : Nil

• 2005-2008 : Nil 


We have therefore lost just eight protected historic buildings in 33 years (two in the same fire in 

1992 in Butter Market) and none in the last fourteen years. Since 1987 the number of buildings at-

risk (of demolition) has been reduced from 44 to three. In the period 1980 to 2008 an additional 96 

buildings have been added to the Statutory List (43 of them in a Government review of the statutory 

List in 1994). 


I hope readers will find these figures informative.

Bob Kindred, MBE, Conservation & Urban Design Manager, Ipswich Borough Council 


Becoming a Tour Guide

Ever thought about being an Ipswich Tour Guide? 

Many Society members will have enjoyed, or read about, the splendid walking tours organised by 

Ipswich's Blue Badge and Town Tour Guides. Working together with Ipswich Tourist Information 

Centre, the Guides lead regular public tours, special themed tours, group tours, and even tours for 

visiting media and journalists - to name but a few. They are great ambassadors for Ipswich, helping 

to bring the town's history and heritage to life for locals, visitors and tourism professionals alike. 


The Guides are hoping to train and recruit new members to their Association and as a first step are 

arranging an informal evening at the Tourist Information Centre, St Stephen's Church, on Thursday, 

26 March 2009, 6-8 pm. If you would be interested on hearing more, do come along. 

You can contact the TIC on 01473 258070 or at tourist@ipswich.gov.uk


The Old Museum Rescued

In the October Newsletter we referred to the rescue of what is probably Ipswich's first purpose-built 

museum. But it is worth drawing attention to it again for a number of reasons, most obviously 

because it is now in use (from mid-November as Arlingtons Brasserie). 


Built in 1847, it is historically one of the most interesting buildings in Ipswich. The architect was 

Christopher Fleury who was also responsible for Ipswich School and who gave the museum a grand 

neo-classical frontage to convey the importance of what was housed within. That importance is 

quite clear from the distinguished people who promoted the museum - Professor J S Henslow 

(Darwin's inspiring tutor at Cambridge), the Rev William Kirby the entomologist, George Ransome 

the ironfounder and most famously Prince Albert whose visit in 1851 led to his speaking "of little 

else but Ipswich Museum for several days afterwards". Tom Plunkett's article in our Society's book 

Ipswich from the First to the Third Millennium is very interesting on these matters (pp 49-53). He 

reproduces William Vick's photograph of the main floor taken in 1876, where you can see that it 

was a smaller version of the present museum built soon after in High Street and opened in 1881. 

Perhaps one reason for wanting bigger premises was the average attendance of 400 people at 

lectures in the 1870s! 


The Society is also delighted to see the building re-used because it is a big problem that important 

old buildings, which many people rightly say give a town character and should not be pulled down, 

are often very difficult to use for modern purposes. (In fact, I never thought I'd live to see this 

building brought back into use.) So the efforts of Ken and Liz Ambler, whose initiative and 

imagination have rescued the museum, are greatly to be commended. Although restauranteurs, they 

are also 'building preservers' - rather than 'developers', a term which can cover a multitude of sins! 

Their first 'preserving' job in Ipswich was Mortimers on Wherry Quay (now the Bistro on the Quay) 

which involved a substantial new build between existing old buildings. Then they converted the 

electricity sub-station in Duke Street (now Loch Fyne) which won our Society's High 

Commendation in 2002. 


Furthermore, Arlingtons not only re-uses the museum but incorporates what Dr Blatchly tells us is a 

staircase saved by Fleury from Thomas Seckford's Great Place, built nearby in the early 1560s. You 

can now ascend an Elizabethan staircase, sit in a room frequented by eminent Victorians, recall 

people learning to dance here when it was a ballroom - and eat a good meal! 

Neil Salmon 


An Architect's Work

Our winter lecture given on 22 October 2008 by Roger Gilles 

This proved to be an absolutely ideal lecture for The Ipswich Society. The built environment is 

arguably our most important area of interest, yet we have had few talks by an architect. Roger 

Gilles, Senior Partner of Barefoot and Gilles, fulfilled all our expectations by drawing upon his 

twenty years of working in Ipswich and by giving a thoroughly prepared and well illustrated lecture 

featuring the wide range of architectural projects in which he has been involved. 


He began by saying how much Ipswich has changed in these twenty years. By the late 1980s St 

Katharine's Dock in London, for example, had already been successfully developed. As a newcomer 

in Ipswich, Roger saw inviting prospects for change, with the Wet Dock especially presenting a 

golden opportunity. 


Some of his early achievements in Gibbons Street and Riverside Road for instance represent his aim 

to provide a standard good design for housing associations. As he said, not RIBA Gold Medal 

standard perhaps but honest and serviceable. He contrasted this approach with the kind of design 

where architects and developers put in extra features to help the application get through the 

planning process, after which 'value engineering' takes place, meaning 'make it cheaper'. What 

Barefoot and Gilles put into their drawings is what is then built: nothing is filtered out. (He couldn't 

say the same for some other local schemes.) 


His design for the six town houses of three storeys each in Upper High Street was produced to make 

both "social and commercial sense". (They sold quite readily and were awarded a Society 

Commendation in 2006.) A more difficult scheme was that in Great Colman Street where his wish 

for a more modern design met with pressure for a mock-Victorian scheme and therefore led to a 

compromise. As he said, architects need to be proactive and use their initiative but the resulting 

buildings are often a good indication of what was possible at the time. Similarly, his new extension 

to Salthouse Harbour Hotel (which he had designed as a hotel in the first place) will not be based on 

his first design, but with its extensive glazing and co-ordinated wall finishes he hopes it should 

enhance the Waterfront. 


On Wherstead Road/Rapier Street is the big 173 unit scheme for Shaftesbury Housing. IBC wanted 

to create a strong impression here, which led to his design of the external tower staircases. "Love it 

or loathe it," he said, but it is "an honest design" - with an interior landscaped courtyard which he is 

particularly pleased with. Also on Wherstead Road is housing on the site of the Live and Let Live 

with single slope roofs - "nothing wasted, so nothing can be taken out.” 


He has also designed two medical centres, one in Woodbridge and Haven Health in Felixstowe of 

eight years ago, that being one of his favourite achievements. Some of his newest work is the 

children's hospice on part of St Clement's golf course where the design respects, and uses as a 

resource, the protected woodland. Working on such a hospice he says is an enriching experience 

because an architect knows that if it works well it will enhance children's lives and provide valuable 

respite for parents. 


In Grimwade Street he has also designed the 49-bed students' accommodation, although other 

student accommodation next to the Lord Nelson in Fore Street has become a temporary victim of 

the credit crunch. 


Finally he intrigued us all with his description of a new scheme at Lingwood near Norwich, where 

he has designed houses in groups with three types of energy efficient features which will be 

monitored by UEA. These designs could be built in town or country. They have been nominated for 

an award by the CPRE and are not seen as alien in this village. So it was not surprising that Roger 

hoped he would have the opportunity to create their equivalents in our area. I hope so. 

Neil Salmon 


New Year: New World

I must start by wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year, even though material and 

spiritual prosperity are noticeably less evident than usual. What are the prospects? 


In the coming weeks, a new US President will be inaugurated and, in the UK, the Secretary of State 

will decide the future of local government in Suffolk, unitary or otherwise. Which of these events 

will have the greater local impact, I wonder? 


The outgoing US administration has had considerable worldwide impact: having presided over the 

sub-prime mortgage boom which precipitated the current worldwide financial crisis, having 

prevaricated on climate change measures for eight years; having led the invasion of Iraq; and so on. 

None of these problems is about to disappear, but it is surely encouraging to see in the White House 

a new and inspiring figure whose agenda for change commands such popular support, not just in the 

USA but in countries around the world, which is surely crucial if the challenges bequeathed to the 

world are to be successfully addressed. 


In the UK, our new Prime Minister came to office in 2007 without needing to seek a popular 

mandate, though public support has grown with his timely international intervention on the 

financial crisis. His administration is also enacting the world's first Climate Change Bill, with a 

legally binding target for emissions reduction by 2050, which has been increased to 80% on the 

recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change (the CCC, whose creation was also enabled 

under that Bill). By the time this Newsletter appears, the CCC will have produced a full report on 

emissions for 2050 and the de-carbonising of the various sectors of energy use (http:// 

www.theccc.org.uk/). A strategy for Renewable Energy will also appear in April 2009, following a 

Government consultation held in 2008. 


The US and the EU together represent about one-tenth of the world's population, but they are 

responsible for about one-third of the world's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. If they now begin 

to act in concert on climate change, this must surely provide strong new encouragement for the rest 

of the world to follow suit. But does this yet help you and me to decide what we should each be 

doing - or indeed may soon be required to do - to contribute to the outcome? 


Firstly, if anyone still doubts the need for any action whatsoever, especially after BBC TV's 2008 

Climate Wars series, then I recommend exploring the following websites: 


http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/ 

http://www.decc.gov.uk 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Environmentandgreenerliving/ 

http://royalsociety.org/climatechange 

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/hadleycentre 


Secondly, there have been recent speculative reports of the converse threat of global cooling should 

the sun deviate from its regular 11-year sunspot cycle, as was last observed in the 17th century 

when the Thames froze over. Two disappointing summers in a row may, for some, lend credence to 

this hypothesis, though climate modelling already provides other explanations. Even so, such 

cooling would actually increase the urgency of reducing GHG emissions. Burning fossil fuels 

throughout several unusually cold decades would drive global warming even harder, but the 

climatic impact will be merely delayed until regular sunspot activity eventually resumed, by which 

time our successors would be powerless to stop it. Whatever we do to limit GHG emissions in the 

next few years will be critical in determining the world's climate for decades to come: and not living 

to see the outcome provides no release from the responsibility for it. 


What, then, should we do? On the Society's behalf, I attended a recent seminar on Zero Carbon 

Homes, held at the Institution of Engineering and Technology, which considered the technical, 

economic, social and political challenges ahead. 27% of our energy is dissipated in the UK's 22 

million homes, which will still comprise the vast majority of the country's housing stock in 2050. 

Any credible plan to deliver the 80% reduction in overall GHG emissions must take account of the 

poor energy efficiency of much of our present housing, only 70% of which has cavity walls which 

could be cheaply insulated, of which only half have already been so treated. Low-carbon energy 

will be needed, for which there is a whole range of potential new technologies, but there are no 

'silver bullet' solutions: they each offer only a partial solution for the individual householder's 

overall energy requirements, and represent significant investments and risks. And while local 

government has provided policy leads and the vast majority of Local Area Agreements include at 

least one climate change indicator, speakers at the seminar were in virtually unanimous agreement 

that policy led by National Government is an essential and urgent requirement if the twin social and 

environmental goals of eliminating fuel poverty while meeting climate change obligations are to be 

achieved. 


Similar messages will be familiar from my previous articles. The problem is now well established, 

but our response is still only to point in the right direction, rather than to map out the journey. Much 

more remains to be done, through further public debate and consultation, to produce a clear 

practicable strategy from the centre, not only for what is to be done, but for the essential 

contributions we will each make that are within our means. 


It may seem perverse at a time of immediate financial hardship to continue to press for urgent 

action on climate change, so let's recap on how we got here. The modern market culture has 

encouraged us to spend money we haven't yet earned, to buy more goods and services than we need 

or can afford, using resources which can't be renewed, and potentially wrecking the climate for 

future generations. It is irresponsible to shout "Fire" in a crowded theatre, even when there is a fire! 

But surely the audience should not just sit there, trying to ignore the smoke and the flames until 

someone else does something? So I will close by wishing you a happy and sustainable New Year. If 

you aren't already rising to these opportunities, would this New Year be a good time for a new 

resolution? 

Mike Brain (mikebrainl@btinternet.com


River Gipping Trust

The Society is pleased to report the creation of this trust whose aim is to restore, preserve and 

maintain the river between Pickerel Bridge Stowmarket and West End Bridge Ipswich. This will 

involve re-creating the means of navigation and caring for the flora and fauna of the Gipping Valley. 

Previously the Inland Waterways Association has carried out restoration work but it is hoped that a 

locally based trust will attract more support and involvement. The Trust points out that the river was 

navigable and important to transport for many centuries in its original state. Then in 1790 the 

Ipswich and Stowmarket Navigation was set up and cargoes were carried from 1793 onwards, until 

the coming of the railway in 1846 led to an increasing decline in waterborne trade. After years of 

neglect, navigation became impossible. 


For more information see www.rivergippingtrust.org.uk or contact the Secretary, Lewis Tyler on 

01473 310381 


Waterfront Update

Despite the current economic climate, work continues on most of the Waterfront projects. 

Fluorescent yellow jackets can be seen on the Cranfield's Mill (Laing O'Rourke) site, on Voyage 

Ranelagh Road (Fairview) and fitting out the commercial units within Regatta Quay. 

Committed developments currently waiting a start date include the following: 


St Peter's Port (between St Peter's and St Mary at Quay churches) has planning permission for 

three hotels, an office block and ground floor retail, but there has to be an archaeological 

investigation before any work can start. Braceforce are negotiating the extent of this dig, and re-

evaluating the three storeys of basement car parking previously considered. Public car parking on 

this site is considered essential to the successful operation of Dance East. 

  

Cranfield's Mill. The shell of Dance East is complete and fit-out should have started by the time 

you read this. There will be three dance studios and an auditorium, cafe and offices for the regional 

dance centre. Completion is due mid-autumn 2009. Cranfield's two associated sites on the north 

side of Key Street, the western and eastern triangles (the western triangle was Allied Mills garage, 

the eastern their lorry wash facility) are both to become student accommodation. Wharfside 

Regeneration are proposing 400 units over 8 storeys, an increase on the size of the permission 

granted for the hotel and social housing schemes on these two sites. Flood evacuation will be by 

footbridge over the inter-connecting link road. 

  

BOCM Paul's offices in a scheme submitted as "47 Key Street" refers to a major development 

between Salthouse Street, Key Street, Slade Street and the back of the Listed property in Fore 

Street. The scheme surrounds the Jewish Cemetery which will be retained and enhanced. It 

comprises 200 residential units, some in a 12 storey tower, 1500 sq ft of retail at ground floor, and 

improvements to the Johns & Slater 1930s office building curving into Key Street. This scheme 

includes a multi-storey car park for public use (which will be essential if the retail element in this 

location is to be successful). 


Island House (Premier Pool Club) is on the small parcel of land bounded by John Street and Wykes 

Bishop Street (off Duke Street). This scheme by architects Wincer Kievenaar has planning 

permission for 185 student rooms but almost no parking (three drop-off spaces). We understand the 

site is now for sale with the benefit of planning permission. This has probably been driven by the 

fact that on the University site immediately to the north developers have gained permission for 

some 400 student housing units. 

  

Orwell Quay, the area previously known as Shed 7. University Campus Suffolk have divided this 

extensive plot into three. On the Duke Street frontage, student accommodation has planning 

permission, as noted above. This includes operational car parking for 100 vehicles - not for the 

students but for the commercial units fronting the street and for the academic building on the 

quayside. On the Waterfront (northern portion of the site) UCS have applied for permission for this 

Phase 2 academic building, some 15,000 sq m of accommodation. (For comparison, the existing 

UCS building is 10,000 sq m.) On the southern Waterfront portion of the site, nothing is currently 

proposed and we expect the temporary car parking to continue. 

  

Shed 8 is the major space, currently a car park, immediately south of Neptune Marina apartments. 

London Provincial and Overseas have had planning permission refused on three occasions but 

continue to push for the right combination of hotels, apartments and commercial outlets. Their 

recent schemes included raising the ground floor on to a podium to avoid the flood risk, effectively 

placing the retail units at first floor level (not adjacent to people perambulating along the water's 

edge) and creating car parking spaces below. 

It has now been twenty years since the first of the Waterfront apartments was occupied. There has 

been endless debate and promise but nothing has changed to the road system. Buses still don't use 

the gyratory system and the advice I received from the Borough Engineer on the opening of Star 

Lane 25 years ago is still pertinent - "Cyclists should find an alternative route". 

John Norman 


Archive of Public Sculpture

A fascinating document is now available on the web, recording all public monuments and sculpture 

in Norfolk and Suffolk. The project, promoted by the University of East Anglia and the Public 

Monuments and Sculpture Association, received funding from the Heritage Lottery Commission 

and was co-ordinated by Richard Cocke in Norwich. Ipswich Society members assisted in the local 

recording and were enthusiastic hosts to Richard and his photographer wife, Sarah, on their initial 

visit to the town as they took copious notes on sculpture and snapped numerous sculptural details. A 

total of 85 sites in Ipswich are listed - an impressive number, although Norwich has the edge on us! 

Users of the website (www.racns.co.uk/) will find a photograph of each item plus a wealth of detail 

on such matters as materials, surface condition and iconography. Fascinating reading for a winter 

evening! 

Pat Grimwade 


Ipswich Historic Churches Trust

Our Treasurer, Ken Wilson, has been a director of the Ipswich Historic Churches Trust for some 

twenty years now and thinks that recent achievements mean that this is a good time to put 

something in our Newsletter for the benefit of those who perhaps do not know much about the Trust 

- and some who might wish to join. 


The Trust was formed in 1979 to care for the town's redundant medieval churches on behalf of the 

Borough Council whose ultimate responsibility they are. Such a charitable trust has access to 

funding, mainly from English Heritage, that the Council does not. 


Ipswich has twelve medieval churches (only Norwich and York have more) and over the years the 

Trust has spent many tens of thousands of pounds in repairing and maintaining those in its care. For 

several years, despite numerous enquiries and many false starts, no permanent tenants could be 

found although there were many temporary uses, all of which were very welcome. 


Eventually in the early 1990s as part of the Buttermarket shopping development, St Stephen's was 

renovated to become the first-class Tourist Information Centre that we know today. Shortly 

afterwards, St Nicholas's became redundant but was soon taken over by the diocesan authorities for 

use in association with their new offices nearby. It is also available for hire, as we know. A 

restaurant linking the two buildings is an attractive feature of this development. 


Other successes followed. St Peter's was taken on by Ipswich Hospital Band (Music for Health) and 

with the help of a lottery grant was restored wonderfully; it is now used for rehearsals and 

performances. The Trust has arranged the display of historical information and artefacts. Others 

may use the church and the recent Awards Evening there was a great success. As St Peter's was 

being restored, St Lawrence's was being transformed by the Borough Council and is now a very 

attractive and popular venue for public use including a busy restaurant. 


Negotiations are currently proceeding for St Clement's to be used once more as a place of worship, 

this time by the local Orthodox community; if they are successful then, for the first time in many 

years, not one of our fine medieval churches will be seen to be lying empty. 


St Mary at the Quay was the first church to be declared redundant. It has since been in the care of 

the national Churches Conservation Trust and is now used for artistic events of many kinds, but 

may be taken over by East Suffolk MIND. Ipswich Historic Churches Trust is still the main 

leaseholder of the other churches mentioned and so its responsibilities continue, but a little less 

anxiously. 


A final note: all twelve churches have many interesting features, but St Lawrence's is unique. Its 

ring of five bells is the oldest in Christendom and the most precious item in the care of the Trust. 

Although they have been rung in recent years they must now be lowered so that this may be done 

more safely and the Trust has raised almost all the necessary funds. When before long we hear these 

bells once more, then we shall thrill to those very same sounds that the townsfolk of Ipswich - 

including a young Thomas Wolsey - would have heard ... half a millennium ago. 

Ken Wilson 


Snippets

Winter all year round 

Communities Secretary, Hazel Blears, finally approved in November the application to build 

SnOasis at Great Blakenham. Opponents who have fought the scheme for six years will have been 

dismayed but probably not surprised. Creating Europe's largest indoor ski slope, other winter sports 

facilities, ski lodges, a hotel and housing will provide over 3000 construction jobs, it is said. It is 

due to open in 2012, but how much will be built and when? 

  

Jewish cemetery 

News in the last Newsletter of the Listing of the walls has interested members, including Mr 

Leonard Woolf who has contributed more information. There are 14 such burial grounds of the 

period outside London, mostly and significantly in coastal and port towns. Similar Listing of the 

enclosing walls has been done at Kings Lynn and Exeter. 

  

Church towers confused 

IBC conservation officers were asked by Sotheby's to identify two towers in an English School 18th 

century landscape painting recently up for sale. St Mary le Tower then had no spire and St 

Lawrence was taller. Sotheby's apparently couldn't believe that and ignoring Ipswich information 

reversed the names so that St Mary's had a "stately 176 ft bell tower". 

  

Cleaner now 

Mention of St Lawrence is a reminder that St Lawrence Street has thankfully remained graffiti free 

since the big clean up - pleasing to all pedestrians, and to our Society which helped to organise and 

pay for the re-paving and seating in 1999. 

  

Keeping water out - but not everywhere? 

A public exhibition was held on 5 December outlining the proposed construction of a tidal surge 

barrier in the New Cut, to be built in 2011 and 2012. This will "reduce flood risk to Ipswich," as the 

Environment Agency says. But residents in the Wherstead Road area below the barrier are less 

happy. New higher lock gates to the Wet Dock were installed on 7 Dec. 

  

Comfort more important than dinner 

Angry reaction to the proposed withdrawal of dining car facilities on the Norwich-Ipswich-London 

rail route may be missing the main point - the possible demise of our InterCity rolling stock and 

replacement by commuter-type carriages which, even if more modern than Great Eastern's were, are 

hardly a worthy substitute. 

  

Area forums 

IBC holds Area Forums every two months or so. Residents of the 3 or 4 wards represented in each 

forum have a chance to air problems with councillors and council officers. Many different subjects 

have been presented and discussed, including energy efficiency, Greenways, real nappies as 

opposed to disposables, and the unpleasant droning/whining noise caused by a vacuum pump 

unloading cement at Cliff Quay. Worth a look in your area. 

  

Wind turbines 

IBC has received contractors' tenders for building the four big turbines noted in our last Newsletter. 

More information about this admirable scheme should be available from the Council soon. (Not 

such good news about the little turbine in Christchurch Arboretum!) 


Heritage Open Days

13-14 September 2008

The Open Days were very successful, and from the feedback I have received from the participants 

there was an increase in visitors. It was certainly helped by the fine weather. 


The Freemasons' Hall were overwhelmed by their visitors - over 400. This was the first year they 

had participated and will definitely be included next time. Broomhill Pool had 700 visitors and 

received many donations towards their Appeal. St Stephen's Church, the Tourist Information Centre, 

were fully booked for their tours. 


The Willis Building did manage to open their doors but unfortunately it was too late to include them 

in our leaflet, but they will participate in 2009. Endeavour House was open again after two years 

and had approximately 90 visitors along with Grafton House. 


There was a lot of interest in the churches, and I should like to mention St Peter's which is now 

converted into a rehearsal and concert venue for the Ipswich Hospital Band and with its permanent 

displays is also very much a heritage centre. St Lawrence Church, which had not been open to the 

public since the early 1980s and is now a very successful town centre community facility and cafe, 

was also a popular place to visit. 


This was the first year I have organised this event and I should be interested in any feedback from 

our members regarding the Heritage Open Days; all contributions and suggestions would be 

welcome.

Dianne Hosking 


Volunteers' Rota at St Peter’s

The Ipswich Hospital Band would like to thank all those volunteers from The Ipswich Society who 

manned St Peter's during the spring and summer months on Thursdays. Their help and dedication 

enabled the Centre to be opened for four days a week. 


Numerous visitors have passed through the Centre since we opened in May 2008 from as far afield 

as Australia, Canada, Holland, France and Germany. Many favourable comments have been left in 

our visitors' book and the Ipswich Arts Association's Charter Hangings have been a big draw. The 

Heritage Weekend was particularly busy with over 70 cyclists calling in on the Saturday and the 

place humming with activity all the weekend. 


During the winter period we are open every Wednesday from 10 am-3 pm with live music over the 

lunch period from members of the Band. The Centre is now being used six days a week for 

rehearsals, tuition and concerts. Further information can be found on our website or by phoning the 

Manager, Bernard Westren on 01473 225269, 01473438730 or the Centre mobile: 07717 398296. 

Bernard Westren 


How Civic Centre is Demolished

Not so long ago I was in the Chief Executive's office near the top of the Civic Centre. Jim Hehir 

wasn't there. He had been replaced by a remote controlled mini-digger. Civic Centre is being 

demolished to make way for the Westgate Centre. Jim, I'm sure, was busy with the issues of the day 

in Grafton House. 


Demolition contractor CDC of Waldringfield is half way through a difficult contract reducing the 

tower block to crushed concrete rubble. It struck me as I was escorted around what had become the 

top (open to the sky) floor that it is a bit like sawing through the branch you're sitting on. When I 

was there, on what the contractor regarded as a reasonably safe day, the two mini-diggers were 

demolishing the walls, pulling them in on to tyres to reduce the impact on the floor we were all 

standing on. Later in the week the diggers set about hammering their way through the floor, 

working backwards away from the hole they're creating until only a small (but vital) area of floor 

remains. Out come the ramps and the diggers carefully descend to remove the last bit of the floor 

above from underneath. And this is where the remote control facility comes into its own; the 

operator is nowhere near the falling concrete. 


All of the broken concrete is pushed down the lift shaft and dragged out at the bottom by a much 

bigger heavier machine, loaded into lorries and taken away for crushing (recycled concrete is a 

valuable hardcore for the construction industry). I was surprised by the relative quietness of the 

operation, and CDC were trying to contain and suppress the dust, particularly as the concrete fell 

down the lift shaft. A couple of misting machines were adding fine particles of water to the air, 

wetting the dust and causing it to fall to the ground. 


The planning application for the Westgate Centre has been submitted and it looks promising. There 

has been much speculation as to who will take the anchor store but I understand nothing has been 

signed and if this is the case building work is unlikely to start yet.

John Norman 


New Work in Upper Brook Street

The Society has written to the Borough Council expressing our disappointment that so much 

'official graffiti' has been added to the road surface. We note that "the quality of materials is good, 

the workmanship of the roadmen excellent and the outcome had the possibility of being outstanding 

- until the final days. How can so much white paint be necessary, why do the kerb markings for 'no 

waiting' have to be 4" wide and why is it necessary to add green tarmac?" We also point out a 

further problem. Partially sighted people and those who wear bifocals are having difficulty finding 

the kerb edge, because the colour contrast between pavement surface and kerb is greater than that 

between kerb and highway (the kerb and road surface are both dark grey, the pavement a much 

lighter stone). This mistake has already caused people to stumble. 


We recognise that there are problems of priority here with pedestrians, buses, delivery vehicles - 

and cyclists who can travel in the opposite direction. But we think this is a case for 'shared space' 

whereby the majority of road signs and markings are omitted and all road users proceed with 

permission gained through eye contact with other users. 


The Council's reply states that the green cycle lane is to help bus drivers keep that lane free and the 

kerb colour will be assessed again after six months. 


Chelmsford Cathedral, etc.

From the Glory of God to the Glory of the Garden 

On 24 September, 37 of us set off by coach on a day trip to Essex, our first stop being Chelmsford 

Cathedral which on our entering the front door proved to be a total surprise and absolute delight. 

After a welcome 'cuppa' we were divided into three groups for a tour. 


It was only in 1914 that this church became a cathedral for the newly created diocese of 

Chelmsford, covering the whole of Essex and five London boroughs; and although being the second 

smallest cathedral in England it is the mother church for the second largest diocese. In 1983 it was 

closed for major refurbishment, at which time the beautiful cream limestone floor was laid, while 

the pews were removed to be replaced by flexible rows of chairs. 


Among the many beautiful objects we were shown were the font, the altar and the Bishop's chair, all 

made of grey-green slate with smooth lines in a modern yet classic style. We were also shown two 

extremely tall cupboards which housed the props and costumes for the Medieval Mystery Plays, a 

new version of which was due to be performed in the near future. 


Another feature was the stone balcony on the south side, fronting the library of cathedral 

documents, reached by a spiral staircase from the 11th century porch originally used for wedding 

and funeral processions. The porch itself held a memorial to the American servicemen stationed in 

the area from 1942 to 1945, as well as a Washington window. Two final items worth mentioning 

were the Tree of Life , a 20 foot painted window in 35 panels above the transept, and a stitched 

panel by Beryl Dean under the east window consisting of 250 squares in stunning colours 

representing crosses. 


After free time in Chelmsford, during which some of us found the covered market, we boarded the 

coach for Marks Hall Gardens and arboretum at Coggeshall. Our visit coincided with a local 

school's sponsored walk through the grounds, so we kept meeting pupils in various costumes along 

the driveway, behind hedges and over bridges, a thousand children taking part during the day. 

We spent three hours in the gardens which cover 100 acres. Time was spent walking through wet 

grass or riding on the buggy to places of interest, including the two lakes, the Walled Garden and 

the Honywood Oak thought to be 800 years old. Some of us ventured to Gondwanaland which takes 

its name from the ancient continent which 200 million years ago encompassed Australia, New 

Zealand, Antarctica, South Africa and South America. This area contains more than 200 eucalyptus 

trees which were shedding their bark in magnificent strips of orange and red. Monkey Puzzle trees 

(which apparently developed their distinctive branch structure to avoid being eaten by dinosaurs) 

were also accompanied by a recently planted grove of Wollemi Pines, an ancient tree thought to be 

long extinct until its discovery in Australia in 1994. 


As heavy rain interrupted our perambulations, many of us made our way back to the converted 15th 

century barn which is now the visitor centre, complete with tea shop and gift shop with a well 

stocked plant centre nearby. At five o'clock we left for our journey back to Ipswich arriving in good 

time and having enjoyed yet another excellent Ipswich Society trip, with thanks to our organiser, 

Jan Meredith. 

Jean Hill 


Suffolk Local History Council

'Suffolk Crafts and Craftsmen' is the theme of the 2009 Belstead House weekend course offered by 

the Suffolk Local History Council (SLHC). These study weekends are an annual event held during 

the May Bank Holiday period which in 2009 falls on 1-3 May. A range of crafts such as millwright, 

wheelwright, blacksmith and those of the fishing industry etc will hopefully be included, with 

individual craftsmen among the speakers. An excursion to a place of interest connected with the 

course theme is always included. Information on this weekend will be found in the Belstead House 

brochure, which usually comes out early in the New Year. Any Ipswich Society members should 

apply direct to Belstead House. 


The SLHC - a federation of Suffolk societies, mainly local history and genealogical but including 

others like our own with a wider remit, and with individual members as well - has been in 

consultation with Suffolk County Council expressing the concern of member societies about the 

care and maintenance - or lack of it - of the Local Studies Collection of printed and published 

material held in the Ipswich branch of the Suffolk Record Office. Much of the collection is 

available on open access in the search room: public use is consequently heavy. There is no 

professional librarian in situ to oversee the collection, and general lack of resources seem to 

preclude any immediate overhaul other than the withdrawal of particularly damaged or vulnerable 

material, with temporary protection given to other items still on open access. Like the archival 

collections, much printed material is irreplaceable. It would be a pity if short term rescue still leads 

to long term loss. 


The SLHC also organises the work of the Recorders' Group. Individuals located in parishes and 

towns across the county record aspects of environmental change (buildings, facilities, etc) in their 

area, and such material and reports are preserved in the local studies collections in the various 

branches of the Suffolk Record Office. Recorders are at work in a number of areas across Ipswich, 

and it may be that some Ipswich Society members would like to take part in this scheme. 

Ruth Serjeant 


Waterfront Archaeology

From a lecture at University Campus Suffolk, History Department by Rod Gardner of Suffolk 

Archaeological Unit 


Excavations under what has become the Dance East auditorium and adjacent flats revealed 

extensive evidence of earlier uses. Importantly, the foundations of a late medieval building, 

probably a merchant's house, were unearthed together with a number of wooden structures. 

Predominant amongst the timbers were a series of in situ hurdles running for at least 30 metres 

along an earlier quayside. Early indications are that they are Middle or Late Saxon revetments. 

Previous Anglo-Saxon waterfront features have been found at this level preserved by being 

waterlogged. 


The bases of other wooden structures were also found and Rod Gardner showed slides indicating 

their position, a few metres south of College Street. Unfortunately, excavations under Bartholomew 

Wharf (the Ipswich Society Award winner in College Street) were disappointing because of 

previous basements on the site. Substantial high medieval septaria-built walls were found on the site 

of Cranfield's garage between Star Lane and Key Street. 


There is a planning application for this site of some 400 units of student accommodation. 


Your Committee and Events

EVENING EVENTS at 7.30 pm 

• 11 February Jayne Austin and Emma Roodhouse on Ipswich Museums' collections 

• 11 March Stuart Grimwade and Des Pawson: 'Aspects of Maritime Ipswich' 

• 29 April Annual General Meeting, at University Campus Suffolk 

•   


MEMBERS' OUTINGS 

• 18 April Eton College tour and boat trip on the Thames 

• 20 May Evening walks by the Waterfront with Ipswich Town Guides 

• 13 June Tiptree for coffee and Essex Smuggling Haunts 

• 24 June An evening of Suffolk Coastal church building stones 

• 22 July Shaw's Corner and the Hitchin British Schools 

• 19 August Bury St Edmunds at the invitation of the Bury Civic Society 

• 16 September The Red House, Bexleyheath, home of William Morris

Issue 174 January 2009

© 2024 The Ipswich Society, Registered Charity Number: 263322

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