Issue 178 Newsletter Jan 2010
Contents:
• Editorial: Our Contributors
• New Members
• Cardinal Wolsey Project
• Chairman on Current Affairs
• The Society's Awards 2009
• Local Development Framework
• Planning Matters
• Some Shorts
• Churches and Chapels
• Public Clocks in Town
• Where/What is this Waterfront?
• Boundary Changes Good & Bad
• Our Golden Anniversary
• 'Window Museum'
• Wolsey's Bells
• Red House & Danson House
• The Town Lectures
• A Northern Bypass?
• Activities at St Peter's
• Our Town: The Next Decade
• Heritage Open Days 2009
• Bawdsey Peninsula Churches
• Bury St Edmunds
• Local Transport Scene
• Letters to the Editor
• Your Committee
• Lectures & Outings
Editorial: Our Contributors
Whether or not you were able to attend the Society's Awards evening on 11 November, you might
be interested in the results set out in this Newsletter. It is quite rare for two Awards of Distinction to
be made in one year - often there are none. This time the Society was able to commend the efforts
of private owners who have invested heavily in very important historic buildings and done so in
appropriate conservation ways.
Without such initiatives, Ipswich would be left with admired old buildings for which nobody can
provide either the ideas or the money for their re-use. This is the dilemma facing societies like ours
- and indeed facing town planners and conservationists everywhere. Ipswich is fortunate to have a
few owners who buck the trend. (Even more would be ideal!) But you will also see that the Society
has recognised the quality of two major modern constructions as well. We are not simply a
preservation society.
Once again I'm pleased to say that I have received plenty of good material for the Newsletter. Each
time some articles have to be postponed - which is why some summer trips are described here! But I
welcome your contributions, and if they come from a wide variety of members so much the better.
Different voices and different opinions are good. Even familiar voices can sometimes provide some
challenging differences of opinion, as you might find in the articles by John Norman and Mike
Brain.
Brian Jepson's survey of clocks in the town and Tony Marsden's preview of the Society's 50th
anniversary events both deal with time ticking away (or stopped!) and very interesting times to
come. I hope you will read on.
Neil Salmon
Cardinal Wolsey Project
Not all members will have heard or read about the recent initiative to commemorate Wolsey by
creating and installing a distinguished artwork which will do much more than simply remembering
him in the name of a street or even a theatre. It is 500 years since Wolsey took up his first post as
Almoner to King Henry VIII in 1509, after which he rose to being second only to the king as both
Lord Chancellor and a Cardinal of the Church. He was a wise and just statesman with a great
interest in education. Only his fall from grace in failing to secure Henry's divorce from Katherine of
Aragon prevented the continuance of his college in Ipswich which would have equalled the status of
Eton and Winchester. The patrons of the project, chaired by Dr John Blatchly, are seeking to raise
£100,000 for a major artwork.
See details at www.wolseyinipswich.co.uk. Cheques can be sent to The Ipswich Town Trust, c/o
Fifth Floor, Grafton House, Russell Road, Ipswich, IP1 2DE.
Chairman on Current Affairs
At 2.30pm on 10 November I was due to meet James Hehir, Chief Executive of Ipswich Borough
Council, one of the regular meetings we held on a one-to-one basis. At about 11.30am that day I
received a message that the meeting had had to be cancelled - James had died that morning.
I was immensely shocked. Over the years he had become a true friend. In the following days
tributes poured in from all quarters, and on 24 November was held his memorial service at St Mary
le Tower with a video link to the Corn Exchange for the large overflow. James did an enormous
amount for Ipswich over twenty years and, although the Society didn't always see eye to eye with
the Borough, on many projects he worked with and supported the Society. He is sorely missed.
One project he was heavily involved in was to provide a memorial for Ipswich's famous son,
Cardinal Wolsey. Interviews will have taken place to decide the successful applicant to execute the
work, and with this the fund raising to achieve the £100,000 will commence in earnest. The site will
be either outside St Peter's Church or at the bottom of Silent Street and it should be a great
adornment to the town. Visitors from abroad are often amazed that Ipswich has nothing (apart from
the old Gateway) to mark this illustrious son.
Also happening at the moment is a scheme to re-position the Giles statue in a re-modelled Giles
Circus. Public consultation will have taken place over different models to do this and they mark a
big improvement on the present situation. Quality paving, trees and seating will all be provided.
I have written before about the celebrations for our 50th anniversary and a list of events appears in
this Newsletter, but one I wish to mention here is our History. The idea of commissioning a History
of the Society was mooted several years ago and preliminary work was begun. We are now well
advanced and are confident of publication in our birthday year. It should be of interest to all
members and others.
Planning applications and developments continue apace, and there are a number of very important
sites currently in the news. The Tesco proposal for Grafton Way is still on the table and generating
much heat about its impact on the town. The Ipswich School application has been withdrawn at the
moment but their proposals have re-opened discussion about the development of what has become
known as 'the Northern Fringe’.
All of this has been opened up a by a major change in planning procedures proposed by the
Government, reviewing the use of land and housing throughout the country. This has involved the
Executive Committee, and particularly its Planning Officer Mike Cook, in an enormous amount of
work. We have made a number of comments but the over-arching one is that a proper infrastructure,
including transport and all services, must be made before development is authorised.
Discussions about the organisation to replace the defunct Civic Trust are continuing. It is good that
proper time is taken to consult so that the new structure is to everybody's satisfaction, but one
unwelcome proposal has been a substantial increase in affiliation fees. Should this occur The
Ipswich Society would have no choice but to increase our subscription fees, which have not been
changed for many years.
Jack Chapman
The Society's Awards 2009
St Nicholas Church Centre, 11 November
The front rows were occupied by more invited guests than usual, all waiting to receive some level
of award from the Society. And with twenty nominated buildings and projects to be described
before the Awards could be announced, there was an atmosphere of lively chatter and expectation.
But first we were silenced by Jack Chapman's tribute from the Society to James Hehir, the Borough
Council's Chief Executive, who had suddenly died on the previous day. It was very fitting that
amongst the photographs of James on the screen was one showing his receiving an honorary degree
at UCS, the founding of the university being one of the many achievements which he helped greatly
to promote, and this perhaps his favourite.
Jack then introduced Bob Allen as our commentator of the evening who would speak on behalf of
the Society's five anonymous judges. Although no longer a committee member, Bob still follows the
activities of the Society keenly. He was our second chairman after Peter Underwood and the first
chairman in post when the Awards scheme began. He entertained us with some intriguing and
amusing comments as well as a considered report on the judges' decisions. These are just a selection
of comments made, in the order in which the nominations were presented.
• Paving scheme, Upper Brook St - a welcome improvement, excessive signing, 'fascinating' lights.
• Paving scheme, Northgate St - good use of stone, nice area near library, enormous 'turn left' arrow.
• Alexander House, St Matthew's St, conversion for student accommodation - better than it was but not as good as its original handsome self.
• Arlingtons, Museum St - restaurant conversion is a welcome re-use of the town's original museum.
• Isaacs, Neptune Quay - important range of merchant's property cleverly adapted as bars, etc.
• 8 Fonnereau Rd, former Tower Vicarage - brickwork and windows refurbished, garden wall uneven.
• Suffolk New College - effective colour and articulation of each storey, impressive atrium, but
disabled parking is right in front of main entrance.
• Gainsborough library, Clapgate Lane/Mildmay Rd - good to see an unashamedly modern building
but visually a 'curate's egg'.
• 40 Princes St - new office building, imaginative use of materials but odd break in facade.
• Sir Bobby Robson Bridge -nice detailing, 'skylon' makes bold statement, good for neglected area.
• The Mill, Key St - valuable development but unfinished, Dance East a great asset.
• Obolensky Statue, Cromwell Sq - good to have more public art, good materials, but is it in best place?
• Ipswich School, Ivry St, new entrance and classroom - good understated design but lacks quality of other new buildings at School.
• Corn Exchange - restoration of exterior, ironwork replaced, stonework cleaned ,Victorian colours.
• Bond St, new apartments - significant addition to street but small superficial details like measles!
• Ramada Encore hotel, Ranelagh Rd - its mass and cedar cladding could be seen anywhere in UK.
• Bramford Rd/Adair Rd - apartment block with protruding pipes, very inferior to the pub it replaced.
• Britannia Rd/Freehold Rd - apartment block with odd fenestration and poorly pointed brickwork.
• 32A Alan Rd, new detached house - ordinary solution to a vacant plot.
The Mayor, Councillor David Goldsmith, the Society's President, presented the following Awards. It
became clear that Bob Allen had created a nice sense of drama by previously withholding the
judges' praise for the two schemes which won Awards of Distinction!
Award of Distinction for the restoration and refurbishment at Arlingtons, Museum Street.
Client/owners: K and E Ambler
Design: Stewart Brown Contractor: Elliston, Steady & Hawes (Building Ltd)
Award of Distinction for the restoration, refurbishment and conversion of Isaacs, Wherry Quay.
Client/owner: Aidan Coughlan
Design: Nicholas Jacob, Architects Contractor: Chapman & Pleasance
High Commendation for Suffolk New College, new building, Rope Walk
Client: Suffolk New College
Design: Sheppard Robson Contractor: Morgan Ashurst plc
Commendation for Corn Exchange restoration, refurbishment of exterior
Client: Ipswich Borough Council
Design: NPS South East Ltd Contractor: Noble & Taylor (Ongar) Ltd
Commendation for Sir Bobby Robson Bridge, new pedestrian river bridge
Client: Fairview New Homes Ltd
Design: Train & Kemp Consulting Engineers Contractor: Tamdown Group Ltd
Neil Salmon
Local Development Framework
... Core Strategies and Policy Document
This is a summary of the many responses made by the Society in late November to IBC's document,
much of which has our support.
The Location of and Nature of Development
This proposed policy of allocating employment to the Cranes site will not encourage the engine of
the town centre. We believe it is important to encourage the redevelopment of sites in Princes Street
and Grafton Way. It seems illogical to site our major employment sites on the eastern borders and
the housing areas on the north western fringe.
The amount of housing required
We remain sceptical, not about the numbers, but about the rate of growth. We can find no evidence
that at current economic growth rates we will need to bring forward the date of utilising greenfield
land north of Ipswich. Nevertheless in due course it will have to be used and thus if Ipswich is to
retain any reputation as a well planned authority it is obligatory to have the whole of the Northern
Fringe assessed and planned by consultants of national status. It would be totally unacceptable to
allow individual house builders to proceed as they wish, driven by what they see as the market. It is
probable that in future years it will have to take up to 5,000 dwellings.
Planning for jobs growth
We would like to see specific encouragement given to upper level developments for professional,
business, banking and insurance use, particularly in the lP-One Area. This would reduce the need
for commuters to cross town, and some would clearly live on the Waterfront and walk to work.
East-West Transport policy
Whilst the Society would like to see improvements to the east-west traffic flow, it does believe that
this is not such a major problem. Some relatively minor improvement schemes with traffic light
phasing will help a great deal.
Urban Design
We would like to see this re-worded so that it becomes incumbent on any applicant to fulfil strict
criteria laid down by the Council. We are still allowing too much very poor stuff to be built. The
Planning and Development Committee needs to be given more teeth so that it can more comfortably
reject such applications without fear of appeals.
Buildings of Townscape Interest
1. The Government's Draft PPS 15, to which the Council has replied, reduces the protection of
Grade II Listed buildings. Your intention to make protection remains as it is now should be
emphasised.
2. We are particularly concerned that buildings which do not comply with a low C02 footprint
may be altered in a completely unsympathetic way or even demolished.
3. We are delighted that the Local List is to be updated. The Society itself produced the 1977
edition and would hope to be involved with the Head of Conservation in this work.
Planning Matters
'Shed 8' Orwell Quay, Ransomes Wharf, an application to erect 3 buildings incorporating a 90
bedroom hotel, 200 residential units, health club and spa, commercial office spaces, ground floor
retail, new public space and basement car parking.
This is the third application from the owners and developers with the same architects. We await the
architects' presentation with interest and will report further in due course.
Crown Street car park. As is well known 'concrete cancer' has recurred. Engineers have deemed
the upper floors unsafe so it is to be reduced to two floors with 236 spaces. This is a loss of nearly
900 spaces. The season ticket holders have been moved to Portman Road and there has been a rash
of applications for temporary car parks elsewhere. Few of these spaces will be available in
December as we write and Ipswich Central indicates it may be the nail in some outlet's coffin. It's
also a loss of £500.000 to the Borough and of course there will be the re-build cost, which might
be insured, but probably not.
Mersea Homes' application to build up to 1,085 dwellings, etc "south of railway line, Westerfield
Road" was described in the previous two Newsletters. The Council expected a huge turnout for the
hearing so the Committee was held in the meeting room at lP-City which holds over 200 people. In
the event I could identify less than twenty spectators. To the evident disgust of the developer and his
team it was rejected with little debate. An appeal is widely expected. Ipswich School's application
for a neighbouring site has been withdrawn.
St George's House, St Matthew's Street (see October Newsletter). The architects have presented a
re-think of the application previously refused. They have addressed the points raised as to the
façade to St Matthew's roundabout and the relationship of the mass to the Listed Grosvenor Hotel.
The height has been lowered by a storey throughout. The proposed uses - hotel, very sheltered
housing above retail units - remain unchanged, as do the unsatisfactory service arrangements. We
shall be considering it further before replying.
The Mill, College Street: change of use of first 3 floors of car parking facilities to temporary public
car park. The facts are: apartments approved 337, actually built 194, of which 149 are sold but only
78 occupied. Consequently the developers wish to let the public pay for 68 car park spaces, 7 am to
10 pm. Recommended for one year only and approved by mc.
Suffolk New College, application to build sports hall and 11 all-weather sports pitches. This is a
joint scheme between the College and Goal Soccer Centres who have developed 34 similar centres.
There will be wider community use in the future. Approved by IBC.
419 Norwich Road. The Food & Wine shop by the railway bridge installed a completely occlusive
roller shutter, applied for retrospective planning permission, was refused, had this appeal rejected
but has left the shutter in place. An Enforcement Order will be applied. It is essential that the
planning process is seen to work and is applied. The Society's objection to roller shutters is not only
that they are ugly but they increase insecurity through creating an anxiety ridden street scene and
thus actually increase crime.
The Spinney, 108 Westerfield Road: this house, designed for his family's own use by the late
Birkin Haward, has been Listed by English Heritage following a number of recommendations
including our Society's.
Mike Cook
Some Shorts
Crown Pools will be undergoing a £3.5m refurbishment programme this year, improving the
heating, roof, reception area and changing rooms. A good investment.
The town's graffiti squad does a great job - graffiti seen one day is frequently gone the next. These
people didn't deserve a journalist's nasty ridicule for removing the giant footprints used by Ipswich
Central to advertise shopping and a pantomime. Communications break down sometimes, even in
newspaper offices! The footprints set a dubious precedent anyway.
Ipswich in Bloom won a Silver Gilt award in the Anglia in Bloom competition 2009 after 5 years
of not taking part. The long-lasting colourful displays were an adornment to the town.
Ipswich Transport Museum has been accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
(MLA), a great achievement for the initiative and hard work of a volunteer workforce. It's a pity
their bid for £590,000 of Heritage Lottery funding was rejected.
V A Marriott Ltd of Hand ford Road, builders since 1895, are winding down operations. Sad to see
the end of a local company which has had a happy relationship with the Society.
The university accommodation comprising 600 bedrooms in Duke Street (photo in July Newsletter)
is now named Athena Hall, after the goddess of wisdom, reason and peace.
At long last a bust of Sir Alf Ramsey has been unveiled at Wembley - a worthy memorial, but
photos seem to indicate it's much less life-like than Ipswich's statue in Portman Road!
lP-Art and Ipswich Music Day, held last June/July, have been given the regional Enjoy English
Awards for Excellence. Plans are afoot for this year's lP-Art.
The new Sixth Form Centre, called Suffolk One, has rapidly taken shape on London Road
opposite Holiday Inn. It opens in September and will eventually have 2,000 students.
The centenary of the death of Felix Thornley Cobbold has been celebrated by special events at
Christchurch Mansion which he bought in 1895 and presented to the town on condition that the
Council bought the park. The Cobbold Trail in the Mansion features many purchases made possible
by his bequest.
Churches and Chapels
A WEEKEND OF SUFFOLK CHURCHES AND CHAPELS
Friday, 30 April- Sunday, 2 May
This is the theme of the annual weekend course to be held at Belstead House under the auspices of
the Suffolk Local History Council. Lectures by Clive Paine, Dr Nick Sign and Roy Tricker will
explore the differences in Victorian Suffolk between church and chapel in doctrine, worship and
architecture; their roles in influencing aspects of education, moral and social improvement. Visits to
churches and chapels to explore these aspects are included.
A leaflet and full details of residential and non-residential rates can be obtained from Belstead
House and bookings made direct with them - Belstead House, Sprites Lane, Ipswich, IP8 3NA. Tel:
01473 686321.
Public Clocks in Ipswich
Visual assessment conducted early November 2009
1. Christchurch Mansion -- going well
2. St Margaret's Church, Soane St -- going well
3. County Hall, St Helen's St -- not going well
4. St Clement's Church, Star La -- not going well
5. Loch Fyne, Duke St. -- going well
6. Trinity Church Fore Hamlet -- going well
7. Custom House, Waterfront -- going well
8. St Mary Quay Church, Key St -- not going well
9. Price's, now Ollie's, Tacket St -- going well
10. St Peter's Church, College St -- going well
11. Railway station car park -- going well
12. Royal Mail, Commercial Rd -- not going well
13. CSV Media, Portman Rd -- not going well
14. St Mary Elms Church, Elm St -- going well
15. St Matthew's Church, Civic Dr -- not going well
16. Elim Church, Barrack Corner -- not going well
17. Samuels, Westgate St -- going well
18. Town Hall, Cornhill -- going well
19. Tower Ramparts Centre -- going well
20. The Walk, Tavern St -- not going well
21. Croydon's (Black's) Tavern St -- going well
22. Yorkshire Build Soc Tavern St -- going well
23. Electric House, Tower Ramps. -- going well
24. The Cricketers, Tower Ramps -- going well
25. Robt Ransome, Tower Ramps -- going well
26. St Mary le Tower Church -- going well
Since I was implicated in the 'Tom Gondris Challenge' (Newsletter October 2009) of reassessing the
town's public clocks, the above review has been undertaken. The numbering sequence is based on
beginning in the north with Christchurch Mansion and St Margaret's Church progressing clockwise
(what else?) east, south, west, then returning to the north with Tower Ramparts.
In overall terms and probably a decade on, things have declined. The current economic climate
precludes owners/organisations from spending on maintaining invariably ancient time pieces
requiring that twice a year hourly adjustment. I suspect the horology expertise needed to maintain
our street viewed clocks is a diminishing skill in our computer age.
Congratulations to those with sufficient civic pride in keeping the clocks going, and to those
responsible for the sad static hands perhaps they can be encouraged to get them moving. This
applies particularly to clocks numbered 3, 13 and 16, these being in key open locations and would
restore the feeling of pride in our town, especially so if illuminated at night. This review indicates a
30% non-functioning rate and raises the question how this would compare with similar sized venues
in East Anglia, let alone mainland European urban centres where my suspicion is that greater
community zeal exists.
Please let me know if you find errors in my analysis, in particular if I have failed to discover some
worthy contender in the heart of our town. I am aware of good examples further out of town, but the
recording of these (invariably on cycle) will await more suitable weather.
Brian Jepson
Where/What is this Waterfront?
I'm sure Ipswich Society members could answer the question above - and perhaps wonder why it's
even asked. But three seemingly trivial personal experiences prompt me to write.
Coming back from a nice lunch on the Waterfront and talking to a stranger on a bus I said how
enjoyable it was that such a warm sunny day had made the Waterfront seem like the South of
France. "You've been to Felixstowe, then?" "No, the Waterfront at the Dock.”
"O, I see. The Dock. My father used to work there but I haven't been there for ages.”
Next, overheard in Butter Market. A group of youngish men were enjoying their drinks outside and
asked a red-coated Street Ranger what was worth seeing in Ipswich. The helpful answer was, "Well,
you could walk down to the Waterfront. It's about twenty minutes from here." Twenty minutes! An
able bodied person could do it easily in ten minutes; it's that close. But if you are only used to
glimpsing the Waterfront from a car in Star Lane or Key Street/College Street it might seem a long
way from the town centre! But it isn’t!
Finally, and again overheard. Six young people were arriving on the quayside having walked down
beside Salthouse Harbour Hotel. "Wow! Does this connect up with the sea? - spoken with an
American accent. "I don't think so. It's been dug out so people can float their boats on it"- and that
with a local accent! "I don't see the point of that," said the American, quite reasonably, as I walked
away out of earshot. I hope our local man was a straight-faced leg-puller, but my impression was he
didn't know! (A much more common mistake is to think that this is the river, when in fact the river
by-passes the dock in the New Cut.)
Dance East and then next year the Witchbottle Theatre (Red Rose Chain at Regatta Quay) plus more
restaurants and more coming and going of students will all help to bring the Waterfront into the
public's consciousness. But at present this part of town hardly exists for many townspeople.
Amongst the measures needed is a regular and frequent bus service linking the town centre with the
Waterfront. My conclusion is that I do like the name 'Waterfront' but we shouldn't forget the word
'Dock'. Remember how many people still referred to our trolley buses as 'trams' right to the end!
Neil Salmon
Boundary Changes Good & Bad
Stop Press -- A Single Suffolk versus a Two-Unitary Pattern
The Boundary Committee has left the Secretary of State these two options, the second option being
Ipswich & Felixstowe as one authority and 'Rural Suffolk' as the other. But that same Committee
has expressed a preference for a Single Suffolk - which The Ipswich Society thinks would seriously
disadvantage Ipswich.
We shall respond accordingly before the deadline of 19 January. However, it may be that the
forthcoming General Election will make any change unlikely.
Our Golden Anniversary
A year ago we set out our plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Society in 2010. During the
year a great deal of research, discussion and badgering has taken place with the result that we can
expect a celebratory year of substance and some enjoyment.
It was our intention to host monthly meetings with talks in a convivial atmosphere helped by
worthy speakers, wine and good food. We feel that this has been achieved and a programme of
variety and interest is in place. We have the intention of celebrating planning and architectural
change during the last 50 years with the town of Ipswich as a focus. We have drawn speakers from
across the spectrum of the Society's interests, and subject matters are as broad as possible within the
requirement for a local interest. The venues are varied also, with a return to some favourites as well
as new ones to increase members' interest and enjoyment. The costs of many of the events will be
borne by the Society. We will have to make a charge for some, however, where a full buffet supper
is provided; tickets will be sold in due course.
We commence with the launch of our 50th anniversary on Friday, 23rd April. The Annual General
Meeting in the atrium of Suffolk New College will see the business part of the meeting followed by
a talk to be given by Jonathan Glancey, architecture and design correspondent of The
Guardian and author of several books on mostly modern architecture. Wine and canapés will be
supplied by Caterlink, the College's own catering group, and tours of the building will be organised.
There will be no cost to members.
On Wednesday 12th May we shall meet at St Peter's Church where we'll be greeted by the Ipswich
Youth Steel Band. After this Tony Burton, the Director of the Civic Society Initiative, will
present a talk about the workings of the Initiative and its relation to East Anglia, followed by
questions. The evening will close with wine and canapés arranged by the Society. Once again there
will be no cost to members.
In June, on Wednesday 16th, we have the opportunity to return to the Willis Building for an evening
with Jay Merrick, the architectural correspondent of The Independent and Ipswich resident,
who will talk about Ipswich and planning, focusing on the erosion of authorities' power. He would
also like to present an insider's view of architects: their glamour versus their projects. Refreshments
and a buffet supper will be served and tickets will be on sale later.
Our planned July meeting will take us to Woolverstone Hall on Wednesday 14th. Neil Clayton, who
worked at the Hall for a number of years, has agreed to speak about Woolverstone and its place in
the Suffolk scene. We will be able to tour the buildings and grounds before being served with wine
and refreshments. Numbers are limited for this event so we will again be selling tickets.
During August it was felt that many of our members might be otherwise occupied so no event has
been planned. In September we shall organise our Heritage Open Days again which will be the
main focus for the month.
During October we shall meet on Wednesday, 13th or 20th. At present we are in negotiation about
the venue for the meeting but hope to make a surprise booking at a new Waterfront venue,
previously unused by us and recently opened. Our speaker will be Ken Powell, the architectural
critic, consultant, historian and writer. He is a former Director of The Twentieth Century Society
and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. We can expect a lively talk
on modernism and a focus on the last decades of the twentieth century. Wine and refreshments will
be served after the talk.
In November on Wednesday 10th, our very popular Awards Evening will be held this year at St
Peter's Church. We expect there to be another large nomination of buildings and new structures all
of which will be appraised for the second year by Bob Allen.
Our final celebration which is very much in the planning stage will, we hope, take place in the Old
Council Chamber, no later than 10th December. This will take the form of a dinner with a speaker
presenting a short address to members. On this occasion we intend looking back at the work of the
Society and project into our next fifty years.
These are many dates for your new diaries and this does not include a separate and equally exciting
programme for Society outings in 2010. Naturally there will be further information during the
course of the next few months; we hope that you can look forward to the 50th celebration with some
pleasure and anticipation.
Tony Marsden
'Window Museum’
Ipswich Maritime Trust Window Museum
After years of planning, the Ipswich Maritime Trust's Window Museum on Albion Wharf was
officially opened on Sunday, 13 September by Captain Jim Lawrence in the presence of the Mayor
of Ipswich. Ipswich Sea Scouts formed an impressive Guard of Honour. The formal opening was
followed by a celebration party at the Custom House. This first window (more are planned) will
have a succession of themed displays, each one running for about six months. The first display
features sail making (based mainly on artefacts donated by Mrs Vera Whitmore) and barges (based
on a variety of models and name boards). Currently historic maps of the Wet Dock feature as a
backdrop to the display.
Anyone interested in obtaining information about forthcoming events can go to our website:
www.ipswichmaritimetrust.org.uk. Lectures held at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club are open to
everyone.
Diana Lewis
Wolsey's Bells
Only at St Lawrence Church, Ipswich, and at St Bartholomew the Great, Smithfield, in the City of
London, are there rings of five bells surviving from before the Reformation, and ours are the senior.
The building of the tower at St Lawrence began about 1430 because John Bottold was described on
his slab at the entrance as its 'first beginner'. In 1447 Thomas Prat's wife Alice left twenty shillings
to 'repairing the bells', proof positive that the tower was already built and the first bells hung. The
following year Alice Grenehood, widow, left the same amount 'to the making of a bell in the tower
there' and in 1451 Christine Hall left more for the same purpose. The Ipswich bells therefore
predate the Smithfield five (all cast in about 1510).
While Thomas Wolsey's parents Robert and Joan lived and probably worshipped in the
neighbouring parish of8t Nicholas, Joan's brother, the wealthy and influential Edmund Daundy,
lived in the parish of St Lawrence and endowed a chantry of St Thomas of Canterbury in the church
where priests would sing masses for the souls of the Daundys and Wolseys in perpetuity. The sound
of bells at his uncle's church will have been familiar to the young Thomas Wolsey who was born in
1471.
In September 2009 the bells were lowered eight metres and rehung in a new frame in the sturdy part
of the tower where they can be safely rung. Ringers will come from all over the country, indeed all
over the world, to ring them and hear their uniquely medieval sound, a sound which Wolsey knew
well and is unchanged today.
The five bells and their inscriptions
Two bells honour the Virgin Mary and there is one each for 8t Thomas of Canterbury, St Giles,
patron saint of blacksmiths, and St Katherine. The Latin prayers are cast on them in raised letters as
follows:
Treble Sancta Maria Ora Pro Nobis [Holy Mary pray for us] Made 1490 by Reignold Chirche of
Bury St Edmunds
Second Sancta Katerina Ora Pro Nobis [Holy Katherine pray for us] Made about 1440 by William
Chamberlain of London
Third Sonitus Egidii Ascendit Ad Culmina Celi [The sound of Giles rises to the vaults of heaven]
Made about 1449 by Richard Brasyer 1 of Norwich
Fourth Nos Thomas Meritis Mereamur Gaudia Lucis [May we deserve the joys of light by the
merits of Thomas ] Made about 1449 by Richard Brasyer
Tenor Sum Rosa Pulsata Mundi Maria Vocata [I am, when rung, called Mary the Rose of the
World] Made about 1449 by Richard Brasyer
It is planned to ring the bells as follows:
•The first Sunday of every month, 9.30 - 9.50 am.
•Every Wednesday lunchtime, 12.30 -13.00 pm.
•Remembrance Day - a muffled peal.
•Christmas shopping Saturday, 18 December 2009 at Noon.
•Christmas morning, 9.30 - 9.50 am.
Other bell ringing in 2010
Easter Sunday morning 9.30 - 9.50 am.
Mayor Making on 19 May and the Celebration of the Town Charter of 1200, on 29 June. Saturday,
10 July, for the Annual Country Dinner of The Ancient Society of College Youths. And on other
occasions requested by Ipswich Borough Council or the Churches of Ipswich.
John Blatchly
[Editor: Dr Blatchly tells me that the extensive coverage of news about the bells included the BBC
World Service. His interview was broadcast in the United States as perhaps the "light
entertainment" sandwiched between President Obama's having been called a liar and the
predicament of a woman on death row! He also says that there have been visitors coming to Ipswich
to hear the bells, staying in hotels on Tuesday night ready for the ringing on Wednesday morning.
This is indeed putting Ipswich on the map, pleasantly.
Red House & Danson House
Wednesday 16 September was the last outing for 2009 with the Society - a full coach made its way
down to Bexley to visit two very different houses. As only fifteen at a time could go around the Red
House we made four trips during the day from our base in Danson House.
The Red House was commissioned by William Morris in 1859 as a family home and designed by
Philip Webb. It was constructed of warm red brick under a red tiled roof and has a strong Gothic
influence. When it was built it was surrounded by orchards and fields but now is in the middle of a
housing estate. The garden 'clothes' the house on four sides with subdivided areas as in Morris's
time. We were taken round by two excellent guides who pointed out things of interest including
fixed furniture used by Morris and original Burne-Jones stained glass. They answered all our
questions and made the tour most interesting.
The other house we visited was Danson House, a fine Palladian villa built in 1766 ~ designed by Sir
Robert Tay1or - but by 1995 it was riddled by wet and dry rot, with no slates on the roof and the
west bay had collapsed. English Heritage stepped in and joined later by the Bexley Heritage Trust
returned it to its original glory in ten years.
Again excellent guides took us around and explained the 18th century history. There was an
interesting kitchen area in the basement with many old implements laid out to view. Most of us
enjoyed the food and drink on offer. The weather was kind to us on the day - before, it had poured -
so we were also able to enjoy the gardens in the park.
Barbara Barker
[Editor: Sir Robert Taylor also designed Heveningham Hall, which many members will have seen.]
The Town Lectures
The Ipswich Arts Society is presenting another six lectures this year. They will be given at
lunchtime (1-1.50 pm) on Thursdays in Museum Street Methodist Church, as follows:
• 14 January: 'Industrial Revolution in Ipswich' by Elizabeth Townsend
• 11 March: 'Belstead House: Hidden Lives' by Janet Dann
• 13 May: 'England is the Place for Me - The Windrush Generation Story' by Del White
• 8 July: 'Wartime in the Suffolk Countryside' by Peggy Cole
• 9 September: 'The Author's Choice of Ipswich Characters' by Dr John Blatchly
• 11 November: 'George Orwell in Suffolk' by DJ Taylor
A Northern Bypass?
The LDF (Local Development Framework) continues its relentless progress through the various
requirements of public, officer and elected member deliberation. When it started life the socialists
had been running the Borough Council for some 25 years. It has been more recently moulded to suit
the current administration and shows slightly different emphasis.
One such noticeable difference is the inclusion of the Northern Bypass, or at least a cry for
consideration of such a relief road. The actual wording in the document is:
"The Council will actively encourage key partners to investigate the possibility of a northern
bypass, to address the issues of:
• central east-west movement
• movement within and around the north of Ipswich
• the capacity of theA14, particularly around the Orwell Bridge.”
The same document predicts that, if built, the road would bypass Ipswich north (rather than south)
of Westerfield (i.e. some distance away from the proposed Northern Fringe development, and thus
only of marginal benefit).
The key partners referred to above are, in particular, the District Councils of Suffolk Coastal (based
in Woodbridge) and Mid Suffolk (Needham Market), neither of which has a need for such a road.
Other partners are SCC (the Highway Authority) and the Haven Gateway, both of whom could take
a wider overview.
The documents do not actually call for the building of the road, rather that the merits and delivery
options are fully investigated. There are a number of issues with such an inclusion. Proposals
contained within the LDF should be based on evidence: by suggesting that others investigate need,
clearly indicates there is currently no evidence for such a road. Suggesting it will relieve central
east-west movement assumes these vehicles currently using Star Lane and adjoining roads on the
Ipswich gyratory system will travel a couple of miles north to join the new road, take a single
junction hop and then travel a couple of miles back into town to save a few minutes delay on
Bishops Hill or Fore Street. This type of journey between adjacent junctions makes up a substantial
proportion of current Orwell Bridge traffic.
There does of course remain the outside possibility that such investigation will indicate a Northern
Bypass is necessary. What is not available is the cash to fund such a road. If, as seems likely, the
road runs between the A14 at Whitehouse and the A12 at Martlesham it is likely to be some 10km
in length. Far be it for me to predict the cost per mile but such a sum is clearly more than could be
expected of the developers of the Northern Fringe. If it is to be built it will need to be substantially
funded from the public purse and thus will need to take its place in the national priority listing. I
suspect that the upgrade of the A12 in Essex and the A140 has a higher priority, and that bypasses
previously requested for villages in Suffolk Coastal District are of greater necessity.
John Norman
Activities at St Peter’s
Bernard Westren, Manager of the Centre, has written to thank all Society members who helped man
the church during the summer. There were over 1600 visitors with a further 1800 attending concerts
and other events. The Charter Hangings were a big draw. The Knapp Brass, stone coffin and part of
another Tournai marble font have recently been added. Jean Hill organised our volunteers; she adds
her thanks and will be in touch for next season.
Our Town: The Next Decade
The Local Development Framework (LDF) for Ipswich has begun its final Submission Stage with a
public consultation on the revised Core Strategy and Policies document. The LDF is not a plan but
rather a statement of the uses to which land within the Borough might reasonably be put over the
coming years and which, by implication, protects sites from unsuitable forms of development.
Within the LDF, the Strategy document summarises the Borough's vision for Ipswich and the means
by which it might be achieved. For although individual residents may understandably be interested
only in the sites which affect them directly (consultation on which will follow in 2010) the LDF is
concerned with how well Ipswich serves everyone who lives or works here or who visits the town.
A relatively simple statement of the core principles and values for the whole town is therefore
essential to provide this broader perspective, and for guiding development towards the desired
outcome through times of rapid change and uncertainty. The document has benefited from the past
stages of public consultation and I believe the Borough's planners are to be commended for
producing a well balanced response to the likely challenges of the next decade.
But striking a balance between individual interests and the common good is almost bound to be
controversial. "Why build more roads to create more traffic?" "Why build on greenfield sites when
there are brownfield sites for redevelopment?" Then again: "Where is the sense in focusing all the
new development on a flood plain which is as yet unprotected and increasingly vulnerable to storm
surges, as we saw only two years ago?" "Why try to squeeze so many fragile eggs into such a small
lP-One basket?" It is all too easy to propose that the burden of change should fall in someone else's
backyard, to the detriment of their legitimate requirements and quality of life.
Clearly the LDF has to cater for uncertain demands that will affect our lifestyles over the coming
decades. There will be growth. But will it be more of the same, based on using the private car for
work and play? Or will a response to climate change, the depletion of global resources and
shortages of water and food finally necessitate a more sustainable lifestyle based around local
communities?
The answer for the critical next decade is probably both. Whether or not Copenhagen will by now
have provided any meaningful global agreement on climate change, we will remain dependent on
car use for many years to come, but eventually this must give way to a low-carbon way of life, one
way or another. Hence it may make perfect sense to focus development on the town centre, to divert
traffic from the central area on to a new and effective east-west route via a new Wet Dock Crossing,
and to provide all the necessities of life within easy non-car access. But will those many thousands
of pioneering non-motoring flat-dwellers, crammed into their single square mile of IP-One,
appreciate the quality of their new life-style? Will all their needs have been anticipated and met?
Crucially, will their high-density flats - many of which have already been built - be designed to
withstand the heat waves of a warming climate without the devastation that was suffered in Europe
in 2003, when many thousands of people succumbed to the heat? A recent UKCIP Report
emphasises that such dwellings must be appropriately designed from the outset; retro- fitting is not
an option.
The latest version of the Core Strategy recognises recent changes in the housing market and the
need for more family dwellings, in numbers which can be provided only by developing the
Northern Fringe, but again in a strategic rather than an ad hoc manner which would include all
necessary local amenities and green spaces. But what will the residual transport needs be, and how
will they be satisfied? Several thousand new residents on the Northern Fringe will surely need to
move around, and if car use will still be significant, then surely this additional demand will warrant
further consideration of a northern by-pass - which would already be valuable as a secure diversion
route other than through central Ipswich for when the Orwell Bridge is closed by accident or
increasingly frequent bad weather. For even if car use declines, it is hard to imagine the cessation of
container traffic from Felixstowe to the rest of the country.
Ipswich is growing. Everyone who already lives in Ipswich has contributed to that story, so we
cannot in all conscience deny for others what we already enjoy. If we object to new houses being
built on greenfield land, what sort of land was it that our houses were originally built on? If we
object to congested roads, is it everyone else's cars that cause the jams, or are we contributing too?
If we have the secret to a car-free life, is it equally applicable to everyone else? We all value our
individual quality of life but we must also have regard for everyone else's, and the LDF is a key part
of managing that balance.
Some, perhaps many, of the aspirations in the Strategy will not be realised. An effective Wet Dock
crossing route would indeed be needed before the Star Lane gyratory could be liberated for
pedestrians. However, the need for a northern by-pass to facilitate movements around a developed
Northern Fringe is less predictable. But if those new residents use their cars as much as the rest of
us, how will the present roads (and their present residents) in the north of Ipswich cope? With no
anticipation of such consequences in the Strategy, the corresponding aspirations will definitely not
be realised, and that will be to someone's significant detriment.
The town faces big challenges in the coming years, as do other towns, and there is much more to
consider than can be related in a few short paragraphs. It is intuitively hard to imagine, for instance,
that there would not be a future role for town centres in a low-carbon world. But will retail be the
dominant feature, or is it a forlorn hope that the town's retail offer can be re-vitalised after the
ravages of out-of-town and on-line shopping? The proper future role for the town centre is perhaps
a consideration for the LDF for 2031. One thing is certain: life is changing. and we would be wise
to anticipate and adapt to the changes. The challenge for democracy and social cohesion is whether
we do it in co-operation or in competition, assuming we do it at all.
Many commentators are saying that democracy itself is at risk, though I suggest the scandal of MPs'
expenses, serious though it is, is a poor reason in comparison to the social climate which made such
a scandal possible, and pales into insignificance compared with the credit crunch I would suggest
instead that democracy must progress. Many decades of globalisation have had the same effect on
national economies as the wind-tunnel has had on car design, namely that in any individual class of
car, they all look the same. This is of necessity, driven by performance requirements and the
limiting effects of nature. In politics as in nature, both globally and locally, we are approaching the
limits of what is possible, and we have to move with the times and learn how to live with each other
and with the environment which supports us, or be prepared for the consequences. To that extent,
the LDF is perhaps a shining example of democracy in action!
Mike Brain (mikebrain1@btinternet.com)
Heritage Open Days 2009
The Success of Heritage Open Days, 12-13 September
From the feedback I have received from the participants there was a large increase in visitors. It was
certainly helped by the fine weather, plus increased publicity in the local newspapers. The Mansion
at Wherstead, taking part for the first time, received over 350 visitors. Broomhill Pool had 500
visitors and received many donations towards their Appeal. St Stephen's Church, the Tourist
Information Centre, was fully booked for their tours. Over 1,000 people visited the Centre. There
was a lot of interest in the other churches. I should like to mention St Peter's which is now
converted into a heritage centre and rehearsal and concert venue for Ipswich Hospital Band and
which had 600 visitors. St Lawrence Church, now a very successful town community facility and
cafe, attracted a lot of attention with the re-installation of the bells. Unfortunately the belfry is not
open to public viewing. St Clement's Church had 227 visitors, exceeding the total visitors during the
past year. Visitor numbers at Christ Church, Tacket Street, were up by two-thirds.
The Willis Building had 811 visitors, following a warm recommendation in The Observer
newspaper and Griff Rhys Jones said in the EADT that he would be visiting the building (but he
didn't). The Unitarian Meeting House next door had in excess of 800 visitors. The new university,
UCS, open for the first time, had over 300 visitors, and Ipswich Institute about 500. Arlingtons in
Museum Street, the home of the original Ipswich Museum and now transformed into an attractive
restaurant/bistro, had many visitors interested in the building.
One of the major attractions this year was the vintage bus travelling between Ipswich School and
the Waterfront. This was supplied by Ipswich Transport Museum and the conductor on board was
very popular with the children. 150 people travelled on the bus, which was completely free. This
was my second year of organising the event and I would be interested in any feedback from our
members regarding Heritage Open Days; contributions welcome.
Dianne Hosking
Bawdsey Peninsula Churches
On the bright sunny evening about twenty members met in the churchyard of the tower-less All
Saints Church of Sutton. Dr Dixon, a local geologist, gave a resume of the geology of the area and
the building materials available from the ground. Fortuitously, in the mid _19th century, large
quantities of flints, box stones, septaria and red crag became available as waste material from the
excavations seeking coprolite (not dinosaur dung but phosphatic nodules). Professor Henslow of
Cambridge University (and founder of Ipswich Museum) analysed them and recognised their
potential as a fertiliser. This led to Messrs Packard and Fison establishing the fertiliser industry in
Ipswich, now gone, but Coprolite Street still remains. We examined the walls of the church and
were shown flints encrusted with barnacles, fossilised shells (millions of years old), box stones, and
red crag shells in the mortar.
Then we drove by verdant fields and hedges to the church of St Margaret of Antioch in Shottisham.
Here we were set the task of identifying the assorted construction materials including septaria with
holes bored by the Teredo 'worm'. Exotic stones obtained from the ballast of sailing ships had also
been incorporated into the fabric (nothing new in re-cycling!). As dusk fell we made our way to St
Andrew's Church at Alderton with its ruinous ivy-covered tower illustrating the disadvantages of
the soft crumbly septaria as a building stone. The church is a large edifice of rubble reinforced with
brick courses and a Welsh slate roof. We examined the walls and again found a wide range of
materials. Many thanks to Caroline and Bob Markham for an educational and convivial evening in
the Suffolk Sandlings.
Teresa Wiggin
Bury St Edmunds
A mixture of sun, greenery, ripe harvest and anticipation made even the A14 100k quite exotic on
our coach journey to Bury. Once there we had a splendid morning walk with our Bury Society
guides. A recent visit by the Minnesota Chamber of Morticians had stated that Bury St Edmunds
was a beautiful name for a town, which augured well for our tour. On the Market Hill we were
reminded that the Angel Inn featured in Charles Dickens's Pickwick Papers (must read that again!)
and were told that the green dome on top of the Athenaeum housed a little, or never used,
observatory complete with telescope.
The Abbey Gardens were our next treat. The Herb Garden reminded us that the 800-year old Bury
Herbal manuscript is now in the Bodleian Library in Oxford. More up to date was the world's first
Internet Bench which for a while 'allowed' free telephone calls to anywhere in the world (that was
soon stopped!). The ruins of the Abbey were then seen, accompanied by the sounds of a choir
practising in the adjacent cathedral. The Appleby Rose Garden \vas next visited; it was established
from royalties from Suffolk Summer by American serviceman John Appleby (the book contains a
wonderful piece about searching for heel-ball in Ipswich). The houses built into the west front of
the Abbey also attracted much comment.
The Cathedral's new tower was then admired (we were told that an earlier - not used - design
resembled a Belgian railway station!), its completion being marked by the also admired St Edmund
Rose. Although the Bishop's cathedral is in Bury, he actually lives in Park Road in Ipswich.
Two White Marias outside the Shire Hall reminded us of where the trial of Maria Marten took
place. We soon had a good view of the chimneys (designed by Michael Hopkins) at the brewery -
one in use, one in reserve and one being cleaned. Another view, over the roof tops from Church
Walks, reminded us that Bury still has a sugar beet factory. A number of Bury St Edmunds Society
awards plaques were seen in this area, including Old Dairy Yard (2009 award) and one (1987) for
Harewood House in Whiting Street where the green painted bricks had been turned around in order
to show their original pale colour. We then repaired for lunch stops of our choosing. Personal
exploration then found more delight including in the cathedral treasury silver cups, flagons and dish
from St Clement's Church in Ipswich.
The afternoon session started with a very welcome drink of ice cold water at the National Trust's
unique Regency Theatre Royal (opened 1819). Our guided tour taught us how to turn the fore-stage
into an orchestra pit and how to simulate waves for Swan Lake, whilst the visit was made more
lively by a summer school working on Treasure Island.
Then to the Unitarian Meeting House (built 1711) in Churchgate Street where the Bury Society
plied us with tea and cake, simply confirming our positive impression of them! Some of our
members climbed the two-tier pulpit whilst others were fascinated to learn that the Meeting House
is used for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and for sessions for blood donors as well as by the
Unitarians.
Then with slightly aching feet but intellectually and visually stimulated at the other end of the body
we caught our coach back to Ipswich. Splendid day out - many thanks John (Ireland).
Bob Markham
Local Transport Scene
Ipswich Borough Council took the decision in November 2009 to close and demolish the Crown
Car Park, which has a capacity for 1,000 vehicles, for health and safety reasons because of
structural problems with the reinforced concrete building. The car park has fulfilled an important
function for town centre businesses and shops and for major events taking place in Christchurch
Park, the Corn Exchange and the Regent Theatre. After demolition it will be possible to provide a
surface car park with a capacity of approximately 300 vehicles, and an increase on this number if
one of the tiers can be retained. Arrangements have been made to provide some alternative car
parks.
Reductions in frequency and a limited number of withdrawals of local bus services have been
announced. The reasons are increases in the costs of operation and a reduction in the number of fare
paying passengers during the recession.
Nearly all the bus services within the town are operated on a commercial basis, whereas the Park
and Ride services receive a very large subsidy from Suffolk County Council, which enables a return
fare of £2.90 to be charged for a group of up to five passengers. This fare is approximately equal to
that charged for one person on a similar return journey on a commercially operated bus service,
although there are some reductions for regular users of the services.
It will be appreciated that bus travel is very expensive for family groups, and Ipswich Buses have
recently addressed this matter by introducing a fare of £3.00 for an unlimited number of journeys by
a family group of up to five people. This facility is available after 3 pm on Mondays to Fridays and
all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays.
In June 2009 Ipswich Buses commenced operating services within the grounds of the Ipswich
Hospital enabling passengers to alight from and board buses very close to the entrances to the
Garrett Anderson Centre and the South Wards. First Buses commenced a similar service in
November 2009 with buses operating the No 75 Ipswich to Felixstowe service. Altogether this now
provides a total of nine buses per hour from the hospital to the town centre with a selection of
different routes. The number reduces to four buses per hour in the evenings and all day on Sundays.
The cross-town Park and Ride service operating between Copdock and Martlesham also serves the
Ipswich Hospital at ten minute intervals on Mondays to Saturdays from approximately 7am to 7pm.
Passengers alight and board these buses close to the Woodbridge Road East entrance to the hospital.
A project is in progress to install lifts and a bridge at Ipswich railway station to provide a link
between platforms 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 for passengers unable to use the existing footbridge. The
previous facility was demolished in 1985 when the Ipswich to London line was electrified. Since
this time passengers have been escorted across the rail tracks by a member of staff.
National Express, the company holding the franchise for the operation of passenger trains in East
Anglia, has encountered financial problems. The company has surrendered the franchise of the East
Coast main line linking London with the north-east of England and Scotland. It had retained the
franchise for East Anglia but it was announced by the Government today that the franchise will be
terminated in 2011, without the option of a three year extension.
Russell Nunn
Letters to the Editor
Morland Road Allotments
From John Mowles, Councillor- Gainsborough Ward
Mention was made in the October Newsletter that planning approval had been given for the
building of nine bungalows, with reference to 'Morland Road allotments' being 'largely unused'. The
piece gave the impression that the development is to be on the allotment site. In fact, the site for the
bungalows runs alongside the allotments where temporary buildings for homeless families have
been demolished recently. Due to the efforts and enthusiasm of the plot holders I'm pleased to say
that the Morland Road allotments are thriving.
In writing, may I assure your correspondent of last month [October Newsletter, pages 18-19] that he
is not alone in his dislike of the curved lamp-posts in Upper Brook Street.
Commemorating Peter Bruff
From Barry Moore
Merv Russen's article on Peter Bruff in October's Newsletter was an enjoyably readable short
biography of a man who helped shape the Ipswich we know today. I fully agree with the sentiment
expressed in his last paragraph about the lack of commemoration of this pioneering civil engineer in
Ipswich.
The bicentenary of Bruff's birth occurs in 2012. I would make a proposal to correct the omission.
The name of the road Civic Drive has recently lost its relevance with the demolition of the
unlamented Civic Centre. For July 2012, persuade IBC (or its successor) to rename this major road
Bruff Drive (or Way/Boulevard or whatever). This would give time for the commercial addresses in
this road to alter contact publicity/notepaper, etc.
In addition, set up a subscription fund for a statue to be sited on the Handford Road/Civic Drive
roundabout. We should be able to expect contributions from bodies such as Network Rail, Anglia
Water (because of his work on the sewerage system), the Lottery Fund as well as a local campaign.
Possible a Bruff statue should be sited looking along Handford Road towards his last residence. I do
hope that there may be support within the Society for this idea or better schemes for his local
commemoration.
Peter Bruff and the Building of Ipswich Railway Tunnel
From Jill Freestone
The article praising the achievements of Peter Bruff in the October Newsletter might perhaps have
given the mistaken impression that Ipswich Tunnel was built in order to complete the Eastern Union
railway line from Colchester to Ipswich. This was not the reason. The tunnel was dug through Stoke
Hill in 1846, the same year the EUR line was opened, in order to carry the line on to Bury St
Edmunds, the Bury line opening in December that year. A myth has grown up, appearing in various
publications recently (not yours I hasten to add) that the tunnel was built in the 1860s so that the
line could be extended to Norwich. This story is quite wrong; the Norwich extension was completed
in 1849. It is true that a new station was opened at the northern end of the tunnel in 1860 but the
tunnel had been in use then for fourteen years.
Have you seen The Cricketers?
From Tony Cheney
Reading the letter by Tom Gondris ('The Value of Public Clocks') in the October Newsletter
prompts me to wonder whether anyone waiting for a bus at Tower Ramparts bus station and looking
at the splendid - and accurate - clock over The Cricketers public house opposite ever lets their gaze
wander upwards to the weather vane above it. Instead of the conventional cockerel or other
ornament above the arrow to show the wind direction, there is a very fine piece of metalwork
depicting two cricketers. One in front of a wicket is leaning into a forward defensive shot, the other
is the wicket keeper crouching to take the ball if he misses. But it would be nice to know the reason
for the presence of a pub with that name in the middle of Ipswich. Cricket never seems to have
ranked very highly in Ipswich. Suffolk, unlike our neighbour Essex, appears only as a Minor
County as far as Wisden is concerned.
The V S Pritchett Blue Plaque
From Oliver Pritchett
My wife and I paid a short and most enjoyable visit to Ipswich [in October] and one of the
highlights was to go to St Nicholas Street to see the plaque that The Ipswich Society has installed to
mark the birthplace of my father. I just wanted to let you know what enormous pleasure it gave us to
see it. Indeed, as I stood there in the street I felt quite moved. I was also reminded of his
autobiography and of his references to Uncle Bugg. I believe my father also spent nearly a year at a
school in Ipswich. I tried to imagine where the school was and which of the grand houses was
occupied by Uncle Bugg and his family ... .I believe the Ipswich Society's Blue Plaque scheme is an
extremely worthwhile operation and it added to the interest of exploring the streets of the town.
The Lanes and Alleys of Ipswich
From Christine Hyde
Sonia Brown is quite right about the quirks of Ipswich's town centre. Last week I left the Unitarian
Meeting House in Friars Street and went exploring east to see how far I could walk without traffic. I
crossed over St Nicholas Street, headed into the first alley and crossed Silent Street; then Turret
Lane alley No 2, and across Turret Lane; No 3 into Lower Brook Street; alley No 4 Rosemary Lane
across Lower Brook Street; alley No 5 still Rosemary Lane; then alley No 6 through (what used to
be) Wingfield Street to Foundation Street and the walkway through Blackfriars Court to Upper
Orwell Street. An exclusively pedestrianised and nostalgic way of getting to Martin & Newby’s!
Lectures & Outings
Remaining Evening Lectures
in Museum Street Methodist Church, Wednesdays at 7.30 pm
• 10 February David Ireland, Empty Homes Agency, on the Problem of Empty Homes
• 10 March Tim Voelcker on Two Suffolk Naval Families (Saumarez and Broke)
Members' Outings 2010
• Saturday 1 May Sandringham, Norfolk
• Wednesday 26 May 50th Anniversary Heritage Bus Ride, Ipswich
• Saturday 19 June Blickling Hall, Norfolk
• Wednesday 21 July Warner Textile Archive, Braintree, Essex Thursday 19
• August Clarence House, London