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April 2014                       Issue 195 


Contents 


Editorial 

New members 

Chariots of fire 

Historic Churches Trust website 

Chairman’s remarks

Snippets 1

Gracechurch: the Ipswich Shrine

Timber domes in the Ipswich area 

Nina Frances Layard (1853-1935)

What’s in another painting?

Planning matters 

Letters to the Editor 

Ipswich Local List 

The Cobbold Family History Trust

 ‘Historic trade lettering’ talk  

Our Building Preservation Trust  

Cornhill Regeneration Project    

Snippets 2   

DTZ Report on town centre

The Society’s Officers     

e-Newsletter 

Dates for your diary  

Broke of the Shannon book review 13 Society Awards 2013 images  


The rain it raineth every day: a surprisingly tall, fully articulated skeleton revealed by 

archeologists working in the small graveyard of St Mary-at-the-Quay Church, 14.2.2014


Editorial 

Valentine’s Day 2014, so they tell me. Let’s markit by a walk down to the exposed burials at St 

Mary-at-the-Quay Church in the pouring rain. This most challenging of the medieval churches of Ipswich will be the place where the past meets the future in its conversion into a ‘Wellbeing Heritage Centre’ by Suffolk MIND and partners. Arguably, a church was always a wellbeing centre, of course. Part of the process of restoration and conversion is the archaeological dig due to finish in April 2014. Your editor’s visit coincided with a full peal of the church’s bells lasting over two hours. The ringers were probably the only warm people in the church, but there was plenty to see in the extraordinary exposed burials, accessed through the small priest’s doorway at the side of the St Mary-at-the-Quay Church, 1960schancel, a table of finds and a child’s skeleton laid out on Henry Tooley’s tomb. Des Pawson’s rope making display drew attention to the maritime nature of the church – the clue is in the title – which originally stood close to the early dockside. It was built on the site of a previous church over the hundred years from 1443. As their work progresses, who knows what the archaeologists will find further down at Anglo-Saxon or even earlier layers? 


Meanwhile, our March Society Winter Illustrated Talk by Conservation Officer in Great Yarmouth, 

Darren Barker (reviewed in our next issue) completes a memorable and successful season.  


Thirty-four new members 


My gratitude goes to all the contributors who have made this issue of our Newsletter so varied and, I trust, interesting  and entertaining.  


Charnel pit at St Mary-At-Quay Church Robin Gaylard, Editor 


Chariots of fire 

For it is written: 


In the beginning, red buses moved upon the face of Suffolk, and green buses served the people 

of Ipswich. 

And the red buses brought forth the people from the distant places of Suffolk, that they might 

worship in the temples of the town – Debenhams, Woolworths and all others of that ilk. 

Also the red buses did take the people of Ipswich and deliver them into outer darkness, yea, 

even unto Lowestoft and Bury-St-Edmunds. 

And the red buses and the green buses were fruitful and multiplied and there was peace in  

the land. 

But the minister of transport looked down from on high and said that change must come. 

He spake, saying, “All buses shall be equal in the sight of the minister,  but the red buses shall 

be First among equals and shall henceforth change their colour.  

And the green buses, that have served the people of Ipswich faithfully since the time of Moses, 

shall  become a business and shall also be seen in new colours. And the business shall be called  

'Ipswich Buses'. 

And the buses that I have decreed to be First among equals shall be allowed to take the people 

away from wherever they may find them waiting, yea, even unto those who desired to travel in 

an Ipswich bus.” 

And the people of Ipswich were sore afraid. 


For it came to pass that, one day, as the people of Belstead Estate, in Ipswich awaited at the 

appointed place for an Ipswich bus, there came a First bus first. And there was, among those at 

the appointed place, much wailing and gnashing of teeth. 


And the driver of the First bus spake unto them, saying, “I will carry thee, even unto the shops 

and moneylenders within the city.” 

And lo, the people became angry, and turned the other cheek, and stood back, withholding their 

bus passes. Seeing their wish to smite him, the driver of the First bus did close his doors and 

disappear over the horizon. 

Ere the passing of a short time, did come unto the people waiting, a proper Ipswich bus, and all 

was well in the land. And the Ipswich bus did follow the empty First bus, throughout the town, 

even unto Tower Ramparts. 


And the people of Ipswich spoke unto the Minister of Transport, “Hear us, O minister, we 

beseech thee, issue a new contract, saying that the First shall be last”. 

 

TO BE CONTINUED..... 


 New website 

www.ipswichhistoricchurchestrust.org.uk is the web address for the excellent new  Ipswich Historic Churches Trust

 website: full of interest and information. (Thanks to John Blatchly for  letting us know.)


Chairman’s remarks 

The Executive members have been extremely busy over the past three months, engaged on a 

variety of fronts in respect of the town and its future direction, including meeting with councillors 

and officers of the Borough, discussing and commenting on the Cornhill proposals and on the 

Supplementary Planning Document for the Northern Fringe. 


On the subject of planning, I sometimes despair as to where the Government is leading us in 

respect of planning legislation.  I still cannot believe that the fifty-two pages of the National 

Planning Policy Framework will successfully and comprehensively replace the thousand-plus 

pages of well tried and tested legislation developed since 1947.  Constant reassurance from 

ministers since March 2012 that there is nothing new in the Framework, it merely compacts 

previous legislation into a readable and understandable format goes some way to pacify sceptics. 


It is legislation introduced since 2012 that gives much greater cause for concern including the 

stupid directive that barns in rural England can be converted into homes without planning 

permission.  At least Nick Bowles, the Planning Minister came to his senses during a recent debate 

in Parliament when he announced that National Parks would be exempt from this loophole.   It 

does however highlight the confusion in the Government’s planning policies and a need for clarity.  

We need more houses and we need affordable homes in rural areas. There are many barns and 

similar buildings that have no aesthetic quality or historical value, including some that are simply 

an eyesore. If the rural economy is to thrive then planners need to demonstrate a willingness to be 

flexible and sensible, but there must be scrutiny of the proposal.   


Tesco’s avowed intention of taking trade from the twenty-plus Co-operative stores in Ipswich is 

working with the recent converted Emperor Inn in Norwich Road having a devastating effect on the 

adjacent East of England store four doors away.  Tesco’s convenience store in the Heathlands 

public house is but yards away from the Foxhall Road Co-op and the conversion of the Racecourse 

pub in Nacton Road into a Tesco has taken trade from Queensway Co-op.  We should also be aware 

of ‘One Stop’: Tesco’s alternative format which is also putting pressure on nearby rivals. 


You will read elsewhere in this Newsletter of a meeting between the Executive and Mark Hunter of 

Ipswich Borough Council, the officer charged with leading the Cornhill project.  One of the drivers 

for the changes to the Cornhill was to provide level access into the ground floor of the Town Hall, 

which should lead to an increase in the number of visitors into the building.  It is generally agreed, 

and here I don’t wish to upset either Suffolk Craft Society or the Community Café, that the best 

way to increase numbers is to find a suitable use for the building, a use that makes the most of its 

considerable assets.   


To this end I agreed to ask Ipswich Society members to report on alternative uses for Victorian 

Town Halls elsewhere in this country.  Next time you are out and about – in Burnley, Bolton, 

Blackpool or Belfast or any other provincial town – 

investigate to what use they have put the Town Hall, and let 

me know, particularly if it is novel and different.  The 

speaker at our forthcoming Annual General Meeting at UCS 

Waterfront building on April 30: Richard Lister, Provost of 

UCS and a member of the Cornhill judging panel, will 

provide an update on the proposals immediately after the 

formal business of the evening.    


Finally a big thankyou to Pat Grimwade who will be 

stepping down from the Ipswich Society Executive at our 

AGM, not retiring but taking on a new role as Chairman of 

Ipswich Orchestral Society (founded in 1902).  We wish Pat 

and the Orchestral Society well and sincerely say ‘thank you’ 

for the contribution she has made to this organisation over 

the past decade. 

John Norman, Chairman 


Snippets 1

Westgate Centre 

Ipswich Borough Council has bought the Crown Court building in Civic Drive.  If eventually 

demolished and added to the site of the police station (Elm Street) both sites could be added to 

the former Civic Centre site to make an area large enough for a mixed use development, 

including retail as was originally envisaged by Turnstone which bought the Civic Centre. 


Valuable corner 

The prominent corner shop at the junction of Westgate Street, St Matthew’s Street and Crown 

Street (known to older Ipswichians as ‘Hyde Park Corner’) is to be the home of Eastern 

Savings and Loans credit union.  Previously a useful baker’s shop, it should also be useful in 

its new way as an alternative to ‘loan sharks’. 


Using buses 

The many people who use buses to and from Ipswich Hospital may have forgotten how 

inconvenient it used to be contrasted now with the several routes that converge on the A&E 

and South Wards in the hospital grounds. 


Lottery money 

A striking letter from Mark Ling in the Ipswich Star drew attention to the disparity of Lottery 

money awarded to the three major East Anglian towns.  Ipswich has received £60m since the 

system began in 1994.  Norwich with an almost identical population has received £160m and 

Cambridge (smaller than both) £120m.  Let’s hope this could be borne in mind when grants for 

the Ipswich Museum’s proposed High Street ‘Cultural Quarter’ are being decided! 


Record Offices 

SCC had considered creating a single large Record Office to replace those in Ipswich, Bury 

and Lowestoft.  But ‘financial challenges’ (i.e.cuts) to local authorities have made such moves 

unlikely – much to the relief perhaps of many local users in all three towns. 


Ipswich prefabs 

The prefabricated bungalows in the Inverness Road area were put up soon after the Second 

World War and expected to last some 20 years.  They are still going strong.  IBC owns 127 (15 

have been bought privately) which are likely to be refurbished by the Council. 


Sunday markets 

On the first Sunday of the summer months there will be a market on the Cornhill. Somewhat 

more specialist than the four times a week market  it should complement those shops that do 

open on a Sunday and hopefully increase footfall in the town centre. 


Ipswich Station 

The number of people using Ipswich Station has doubled over the last few years.  During the 

last year 3.3 million people used the station, an increase of 6% on 2012.  This will come as no 

surprise to commuters and train travellers who can feel distinctively crowded at busy times. 

Ipswich is not however, the busiest station in the region; Cambridge handled 9.1 million 

passengers last year and Liverpool Street, the third busiest station in London, nearly 60 million 

travellers (Waterloo and Victoria are busier). 


Gracechurch: the Ipswich Shrine 

John Blatchly & Diarmaid MacCulloch: Miracles in Lady Lane; 

The Ipswich Shrine at the Westgate’  (J.M. Blatchly, 2013)  


This book gives a remarkable insight into a lost chapter of 

Ipswich history. It contains primary research and fascinating 

hypotheses concerning the precise location of the lost Shrine of 

Our Lady of Grace just outside the town's Westgate and its fate. 


The images at the back: an anonymous watercolour painting and an 1875 photograph show the 

almshouses built along either side of Lady Lane by Edmund Daundy at some time before his 

death in 1515. It is difficult to believe when one sees the rather bleak (and short) Lady Lane 

today. Ironically, these ancient, single storey buildings dating back to Tudor times were 

demolished as recently as 1877. Daundy happened to be the uncle of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey 

the second most powerful person in the country after the King. These almshouses were on the 

site of the 14th century St John’s Hospital almshouses built for the poor of the parish of St 

Matthew. They adjoined the shrine chapel which stood just outside the Westgate (perhaps on 

the site of today’s Franklin’s haberdashery shop and QD store on St Matthews Street). The 

shrine chapel stood on the site of – or used the same structures as – the chapel of All Saints 

which, although not mentioned in Domesday, had early Norman decoration. 


All Saints is first mentioned in documents of 1219, but is certainly earlier, and over time the 

name changed to the chapel of 'Our Lady of Grace’ or Gracechurch. On January 8th, 1297 a 

royal wedding of Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Edward I, to the Count of Holland took 

place in the shrine chapel, then one of England's major shrines of Marian pilgrimage. Edward I 

stayed in the town for the ceremony with 'a splendid court'. Many pilgrims were to follow in 

the ensuing years. 


By 1327 documents record the recent discovery of an image of the Blessed Virgin, perhaps 

beneath the flooring of the chapel, and ‘several great miracles had taken place’. Attracting 

further royal attention and becoming prosperous in the 14th and 15th centuries, the chapel of 

Our Lady of Grace can be seen as a younger sibling of the Marian shrine at Walsingham in 

Norfolk. The scene was set for a ‘miracle’ concerning the ‘Maid of Ipswich’ in 1516 when the 

twelve year old daughter of Sir Roger Wentworth of Gosfield (twice MP for Ipswich who lived 

at Thaxted in Essex), in a tormented state had a vision of the Virgin. She demanded to be taken 

to the shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Ipswich and was apparently cured in a tumultuous 

fashion. One notable witness was that most important resident of the town, Lord Curson who 

lived in his mansion on St Nicholas Street; he wrote down his account of events for the King.  


Queen Catherine of Aragon visited the shrine in 1517, followed by Cardinal Wolsey, papal 

legate and Lord Chancellor, the same year and finally by King Henry VIII himself in 1522. 

Both royal visitors stayed at Curson House, during their visits. This patronage meant that it was 

boom time for the shrine and a number of hostelries jockeyed for custom from visitors and 

pilgrims. At the other end of town The Salutation public house survives today with its name 

evoking the Annunciation. 

           

Wolsey’s intention to establish a ‘college’ school to rival the likes of Eton College which 

would be linked to the shrine took shape around the same time. The Papal Bulls for his 

Cardinal College Ipswich were not in place until 1528. Opposition to worship of graven images 

and idolatry from Lollards, William Tyndale and, locally, the preacher Thomas Bilney was 

growing as the shrine became more famous and prosperous. In 1529 Wolsey was stripped of 

his government office and property by Henry VIII and Wolsey died in 1530. 


From 1536 and under Wolsey's former servant, Thomas Cromwell, the Reformation and 

establishment of the Church of England progressed. Five Ipswich monastic establishments 

were dissolved along with so many others. The days of the already struggling Ipswich shrine 

were numbered and eventually the building was stripped of valuables and building materials. 

Evidence of its existence seems to have survived until the mid-18th century. 


The seductive conspiracy theory that the Ipswich sculpture was not burnt at Chelsea, but 

smuggled from London by Catholic sailors and taken to Italy is dismissed by the authors of 

Miracles in Lady Lane out of hand. The style of the carving of the image in Nettuno is much 

later than the statue of the Virgin which was rediscovered in the Lady Lane shrine chapel by 

1327. Also, those involved in the purging of idolatry from Thomas Cromwell downwards knew 

the importance of the  removal of the image and its public burning; their failure to do so seems 

very unlikely.  


This book is a fine addition to the rich roller-coaster of the history of Ipswich.  

R.G. 


(Both the Tourist Information Centre and Waterstone's stock Miracles in Lady Lane at £12.) 


John Blatchly, on reading my mention of the stone carvings relating to the shrine in last issue’s editorial, has kindly sent this George Frost pencil drawing of the west view of St Nicholas church in about 1800. It clearly shows, to the right of the main tower, the positions of the boar tympanum and the Michael and dragon Romanesque sculptures brought from Gracechurch in Lady Lane on its demolition in 1538. They were taken indoors out of the weather sometime after David Elisha Davy recorded them on that wall in 1824. 


The drawing was discovered too late for inclusion in the book. 


Timber domes in the Ipswich area 

From 1963 to 1974 a unique series of domes were designed by my father, the Ipswich architect 

Birkin Haward of Johns Slater and Haward, in conjunction with the engineers, Felix Samuely 

and Partners.  These domes were an economical way of enclosing a large clear space for sports 

and social use, mostly for local schools. 


These structures consisted of a timber shell framework, following the geodesic principles 

promoted by Buckminster Fuller in the 1960s. Fuller had used a triangulated steel framework 

for large spherical enclosures as at the USA World Expo 76m diameter pavilion at Montreal in 

1967. Meanwhile Birkin adopted standard timber struts with steel end plates, bolted together, 

spanning up to half that size.  These were supported on concrete perimeter ground beams, sheet 

clad, waterproofed and lined, with openings for access, lighting and ventilation. 


Early local domes had hemispherical forms with framing based on the icosedodecahedron, as 

the trial 6.4m diameter framework we erected at the Spinney, Westerfield Road  in 1963 [see the 

illustration at the end of this article].  This was followed in 1967 at Dale Hall School with a 

14.5m diameter complete version and then at Landseer School at 18.3m diameter.  The varied 

triangular framework involved wasteful cutting of sheet covering and lining.  


In 1969, a simplified 18.3m diameter segmental dome framework was adopted at Downing 

School, where almost rectangular covering panels contributed sufficient stiffness.  However the 

circular plan did not suit most sports.   


Alternative triangulated arcs had formed the faceted sides of the 18.3 x 36.6m Silver Jubilee 

School* dome in 1968 and the 16.5m square plan of Britannia Table Tennis Club dome in 1969.  


Nacton Heath Secondary School (later Holywells High School) 

Sports Dome, 1972


The latter incorporated chamfered hips at the corners for a more compact and contiguous shell 

form.  Horizontal lines of triangulation allowed more effective sheet covering. 


Further orthogonal plan versions followed, mostly square as at Guardian Royal Exchange 

Sports Club with 16.5m sides (since demolished) and the first larger version at Nacton Heath 

Secondary School§ with 33.9m sides, in 1972.  The latter could accommodate two tennis courts, 

six badminton courts and other sports, with a changing block along one side!  During 

construction the bolted intersection tolerances led to a top deflection, requiring replacement 

multi-flanged junction plates after innovative computer analysis.  A similar large dome was then 

built at Woodbridge School, in 1974, with the alternative junction detail. 


Other rectangular plan domes followed in 1974 at Handford Hall School at 16.5 x 29.9m with 

hipped corners and a larger version at Thurleston School of 24.4 x 36.6m.  The detailed 

structural design also benefited from computer analysis. 


Constructional details using prefabrication evolved with the overall forms, but precision and 

careful sequencing were necessary for effective assembly.  The silver external ‘Evode’ 

bituminous treatment protected the plywood sheathing while internal linings provided 

insulation, acoustic control, fire resistance and finish to suit use.  Heating avoided airflow 

affecting badminton, while natural ventilation utilised stack effect.  Fluorescent lighting at high 

level also became the norm.  Overall costs were 25% less than the equivalent steel  

frame structure. 


By 1975, restricted educational funding temporarily halted these projects and Birkin produced 

his comprehensive volume ‘Timber Domes Developed in the Ipswich Area’ as a record.  In 

1976 he was awarded the international Stuart Mallinson Gold Medal for Timber Research and 

Development.  While a high level of design and construction skill was involved with this 

innovative development, an alternative economic basis for enclosing larger span spaces had 

been demonstrated.  They mostly remain a distinctive feature on the local scene. 

Bill Haward RIBA 

*Silver Jubilee School. Now called St Edmund VI School (Bury St Edmunds). 

§This was the Priory Heath Wing, later called Holywells High School, then closed late 2013.  The dome is 

currently used by ‘Inspire’, but the site is proposed for housing, giving concern over the dome’s future. 


Left: Geodesy in the garden: an early prototype, 1963

Right: one of Birkin Haward’s working drawings, 1970

Nina Frances Layard (1853-1935)


I was fascinated to read the references to Nina Frances Layard in the article by Bob Markham 

and Merv Russen in the latest Newsletter [Peter Bruff and the mammoth]. You may be 

interested to read the enclosed article about Miss Layard published in our History Society 

Journal, 3rd Series, No. 11, December 2000. Sincerely, Michael Roberts (Hon. Editor, 

Framlingham History Society). 


We are pleased to include extracts from the article entitled A remarkable woman: Nina Frances 

Layard by George Miller Chamberlain.  


‘Who was this woman? Without question, she was one of the most remarkable English women to have lived. A great archeologist, poet, botanist, humanist, radical thinker, and champion of the underdog. A heroine, now almost unknown outside Suffolk, unsung in the annals of English history, and not to be found in Who’s Who?, or other reference books of famous or significant figures. 


Nina Frances Layard was not of Suffolk stock, and arrived in Ipswich in 1890 at the age of 37. Already she was a noted poet, author, and archeologist. Deeply religious, she was radically active in her support for improving the lot of the working classes. In 1902 she had been made a Fellow of the Anthropological Institute. Later, in 1906, she was again honoured by becoming a fellow of the Linnaean Society. In 1921 when the Society of Antiquaries first allowed the admission of women, she was one of the first to gain a Fellowship. During her time in Ipswich, she was President of the Prehistoric Society of East Anglia and Vice President of the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology. 


Miss Layard’s father, Charles Clement, was Rector of Combe Hay, Bath. One of her brothers, the Reverend Charles Villiers Layard, held the curacy of St. Margaret’s Church, Ipswich. Her father’s cousin was Henry Austin Layard, the explorer, the excavator of the tombs of Nineveh, hence her deep love of  archaeology from an early age. 


For most of her time in Suffolk, she resided mainly in Ipswich, firstly at “Rookwood”, a rambling red brick, towered edifice, in Fonnereau Road, next to the Arboretum (now the vicarage of St Mary-le-Tower Church), then at “The Moorings”, in Paget Road. Both houses remain much as they were in those long-off days. 


All through the years until the time her death, she was a tireless worker, visiting every 

archaeological excavation in Ipswich and other, far-flung areas, a valiant and persevering 

investigator, whose span of activities embraced the exploration of an early cemetery just 

beyond the Seven Arches bridge in Hadleigh Road, sites at Foxhall Road, Derby Road station, 

Stoke railway cutting and many others. 


… Nina Layard was a free spirit long before the time of today’s modern woman, and spent 

much of her life fighting the prejudice and disbelief that a mere woman could contribute 

anything serious to the science of archaeology, or any other bastion of male dominance. She 

would never bend in the struggle against the evils of injustice, ignorance, intolerance, personal 

greed, or political chicanery, and was to be a thorn in the side of the reactionary Ipswich 

Borough Council all her years, but always a catalyst for sensible change, improvement, and 

progress. There is no evidence that she was involved in the Suffrage movement, but there can 

be no doubt that she was a fearless protagonist of women’s rights, and therefore must surely 

have been a staunch supporter. She had a strong social conscience, and was deeply concerned 

over the plight of the poor. Her early poems, particularly “A Song of Tears”, demonstrated this; 

and the Literary World 1891 magazine, when praising her work said “she deplored the 

helplessness of the great, for all their good will, to relieve the suffering of the poor.” 


… The “Layard Collection”, the results and findings of Miss Layard’s heroic work on the 

Anglo-Saxon Cemetery at Hadleigh Road, can be seen at the Ipswich Museum, and are by 

themselves well worth a visit.’ 


The 2004 book Miss Layard excavates : A Palaeolithic site at Foxhall Road, Ipswich, 1903-1905 by Mark J. 

White and Steven J.Plunkett is available to borrow from Suffolk Libraries. 


What's in another painting ?  

I had a chat with a couple of people I know well, over my piece in the last Newsletter [January 

2014 issue, page 18] about the Lorenzo Castro painting in the Borough Collection. They 

informed me of another painting in the Borough Collection that is wrongly described: namely 

“The Assault on the Town of Oudenarde, Belgium” featuring the Duke of Marlborough, by 

Peeter Verdussen, which hangs in the west stairwell of the Mansion. “It's definitely not 

Oudenarde” I was told. 


After quite a bit of research I have identified it as a depiction of William of Orange at the Siege 

of Namur in1695. The internet link to the image is:- 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/yourpaintings/paintings/the-assault-on-the-town-of-oudenarde-belgium-11533 

Louis Musgrove 


Correction 

In the October 2013 Newsletter in Troglodytic Ipswich about the long-demolished Stoke 

Hall I mistakenly said that by 1892 Stoke Hall was up for sale following the death of the 

owner Robert James Ransome of Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies.  This should have read 

‘of Ransomes and Rapier, railway engineers’, whose factory was quite close by at the 

Waterside Works on Griffin Wharf. R.G. 


Planning matters 

St Clement’s Hospital site 

The redevelopers of St Clement’s Hospital site proposed 4.5% of the application (for 227 units) for 

affordable housing, that is 10 houses. This contrasts with Ipswich Borough Council's gold standard 

of 35% for affordable housing. An offer from the developer of £180,000 falls well short of an IBC 

calculation of £1,500,000 for Section 106 works (focused on site specific mitigation of the impact 

of development). This is about an eighth of what is required; apparently the two sides could not 

come to an agreement and the application has been withdrawn.  

4 College Street 

The attractive 16th century cottage, 4 College Street (opposite St Peters Gate), looks set to be 

restored into two flats for market rental. In future there will be separate, new affordable 

development on the site-, which is currently a car park. We await the revival of the Republic of 

Ireland's economic status before the majority of the unfinished waterfront conversions and new 

build can be completed. 

Wind turbine 

Much time has been spent considering the application for a single giant wind turbine at Pannington 

Hall. At 130 metres blade tip on a 42 metre knoll next to Jimmy's Farm, it would be, at 172 metres 

(569 feet). The Mill is 71 metres high and the bridge 50 metres above the Orwell. It would be 

visible all over Ipswich. As a  Society for Ipswich Borough, we felt we could only object to its 

visual impact on Ipswich. Thus, we have written a strong letter of objection to Babergh District 

Council, the responsible planning authority, (as has our sister organisation The Suffolk Preservation 

Society) and given moral support to the Stop Ipswich Turbine group (SIT) – who are running a 

text-book example of how to object. The application was put before the Ipswich Planning and 

Development Committee which voted that it was a strong visual intrusion into south-west Ipswich 

and recommended that it should be refused. Babergh has received 700 letters of objection. The 

hearing will not take place for a couple of months. 

Woodside 

English Heritage have written a strong letter saying that the concept of a large house in the kitchen  

garden of Woodside, 16 Constitution Hill would be deleterious to this fine Grade II* mid-Victorian 

grand house, the Conservation Area and is against the National Planning Policy Framework. This 

was similar to the views of the Conservation and Design Panel. The Planning Officers’ 

recommendation was for refusal. In the light of this, the application was withdrawn at the very last 

moment. I feel sure there will be a further application. 

St Alban’s School 

An application for a new sixth form block at St Alban's Roman Catholic School to expand the size 

of the sixth form by 62 places has been approved. Most of the students will be in the school already 

and hence there should not be much increase in traffic. The building, invisible to the public will be 

three storeys high, of buff brick and handsome. It does not fulfil the BREEAM§ requirements but 

because it is nearly there and the cost of “excellent” would be £100,000 which would have to be 

funded by the school, not the Department for Education, and the small increase in traffic, it has 

been approved. The architect is Craig Driver of Hoopers. 

It is encouraging that there have been 1,106 planning applications registered in the last twelve 

months compared with 1,001 in the previous year. The shoots of the economic revival are showing 

not least in the number of intermediate size housing proposals and some commercial movements 

apart from hand car-washes and coffee shops. 

A proposal for a small car park on the unused island site opposite the Novotel has been refused. 

We have written replies to IBC's two major current planning consultations, The Ipswich Garden 

Suburb (aka Northern Fringe Development) and the draft Core Strategy, Development Plan 

Focussed Review and Site Draft Allocations. 

Mike Cook   


[BREEAM: Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology]



Broke of the Shannon 

The book Broke of the Shannon and the War of 1812, edited by 

Dr Tim Voelcker, concerns the game changing engagement 

between the HMS Shannon, commanded by Captain Philip 

Broke of Broke Hall, Nacton and the USS Chesapeake, 

commanded by Captain Lawrence. This event is discussed by 

leading experts from British, American and Canadian 

perspectives within the context of the War of 1812. They look at 

the battle itself, as well as Broke as a gunnery expert, Arctic 

explorer,  husband, medical miracle and Ipswich School boy, 

with additional chapters on the music and caricatures generated 

at the time and much more.   


This important work on our local hero is a credit to the editor, who has brought together a 

varied, knowledgeable group of writers and given us a readable but serious work. 

Des Pawson 


The book is published by Seaforth Publishing at £19.99, but can be purchased at a special ‘direct 

from the author’ price of £15.  If you wish it can be signed by Dr Tim Voelcker, the editor and part-

author. Orders may be made, either by post with cheque payable to Tim Voelcker and sent to him at: 

The Old Rectory, Bucklesham, Ipswich IP10 0DX, or by emailing your order to: 

timvoelcker@lineone.net (payable by Paypal). Please include your name, address and a contact 

telephone number with your order. Local collection in Ipswich can be arranged or add £3 for postage. 


‘Broke on the deck of the USS Chesapeake’ (painting used on the book cover)


Letters to the Editor 

The future of the Cornhill from Mrs Rani Pert 

I too write to say how dismayed I am at the choice of the Council re: the Cornhill. 


The two buildings to be affected, the Town Hall and the Old Post Office, are grand in design 

which incorporates the stairs – the removal of these to form a level platform will arguably 

make the buildings look out of proportion, apart from the challenges of the design which will 

incur huge expense. 

  

The open space of the Cornhill is great – and marvellous for things like New Year’s Eve, the 

cycle race, and any event needing an open space. It can certainly be tidied up, and more seating 

placed there as well as maybe a feature statue. 

  

I do wonder why the Council does not approach or ask the people what they would like; maybe 

a competition as happened with the Wheel in London. 

  

I attended the display [in the Town Hall in September 2013] and it was plainly obvious to me 

regardless of what we say, the Council were going to pursue a change, taking one of the five 

designs presented, none of which were by a local company who understand Ipswich and its 

needs. 

  

The Town needs regeneration and at the moment all the Council are succeeding in doing is 

stopping people from coming to the Town. The traffic schemes are challenging, all the traffic 

lights and the cost of parking is prohibitive. It will be made worse by changing the double 

roundabout at Norwich Road into traffic lights. 

  

We need a crowd-puller, and the alteration of Cornhill will not be the answer. 


More Cornhill 

From John Clough 

I must write to tell you how emphatically I agree with every word you say in the Newsletter on 

this subject, and to echo the hint in your subtitle.  It is appalling to contemplate £3,000,000 

being spent on the Cornhill to such small apparent effect.  Large sums have just been spent on 

the two bus stations with similar non-results, opportunities to improve the designs being 

entirely missed. 


Your demand for proper resurfacing of pedestrianised streets prompts me to appeal for a more 

frequent cleanup of the chewing gum which we now have to walk on all over the town centre, 

though a permanent solution is what is really needed.  A much larger number of small litter 

bins might help. 


On residential development in the town centre – I have never understood why floors above 

small retail premises cannot be put to greater residential use.  This would bring life to the area 

and improve the security of the shops.  Could the rating system be used to encourage this? 


The Newsletter’s Planning coverage. From Councillor Carole Jones, (Executive member, 

Economic Development & Planning, Ipswich Borough Council) 


I always read the Society’s Newsletter with interest and, as a Borough councillor and an 

individual, have great respect for the work the Society has done and continues to do.  

However, I feel I must comment on some aspects of recent Newsletters.  


1. ‘Planning Matters’: Mr Cook is unhappy that approval was given to a house in the grounds 

of Tudor House Stone Lodge Lane. That is fair enough. But to then attack the Council’s 

planning department for ‘this continuing granting of permission to aesthetically 

unsatisfactory buildings’ is a wild leap from the specific to the general. It is very unfair to 

planning officers, who have fought hard to preserve Barton Wood and Tudor Lodge – for 

instance, in 2011 the Council won an appeal against a decision to refuse permission to build 

28 houses in the grounds. For the record, Committee and officers have regularly refused 

planning permission on design grounds. Clearly the Committee didn’t agree with Mr Cook 

on this particular application but, to a degree, design will always be a subjective issue. 


2. The Emperor public house, Norwich Road: Mr Cook has misunderstood the application. 

Tesco did not need planning permission for a change of use. Their application was for an 

extension to the building. The comment that ‘planning officers didn’t handle the case well’ is 

unjustified, and not supported by any evidence; there is no basis in planning law for refusing 

an application for an extension simply because you don’t like a lawful use of the site. As a 

ward councillor I represented local residents in opposing this application at Committee. The 

bottom line was that Punch Taverns, the owners, did not want to keep the pub open.  


3. The Council does not support out-of-town retailing at the expense of the town centre. If we 

could have persuaded John Lewis to open up in the town centre, we would have; it would 

have had a completely transformative effect on our town centre retailing. But JLP were 

unmoveable. The Futura Park development was a second best, but the application ‘enabled’ 

the decontamination of the whole site and its preparation for wider employment uses. Also, 

at Committee it was noted that Ipswich Central lodged no objections to the application, 

which was significant as they represent many town centre retailers. 


4. The Martlesham Heath out-of-town stores Mr Cook mentions are in Suffolk Coastal, not 

Ipswich Borough, and were approved by them despite the Borough’s objections. 


Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Meanwhile, I look forward to continuing to work with 

the Society for the benefit of our town. 


All best wishes,  

Councillor Carole Jones (Portfolio-holder for Planning, Ipswich Borough Council) 


Local List 

Meanwhile, Councillor Carole Jones and IBC Conservation Officer, Gail Broom, are to be commended 

for the work done on the Supplementary Planning Document: ‘Local List (Buildings of Townscape 

Interest)’. This SPD gives modified protection to over 600 Borough buildings not ‘important’ enough to 

be accorded national Listed status by English Heritage, but nonetheless precious to Ipswich residents. 

Society members should find this of great interest. For more information, the link is: 


https://www.ipswich.gov.uk/content/local-list-spd 

We are delighted to spread the word about the Local List, as it was an Ipswich Society initiative and 

Mike Cook attended all the meetings to draw up the list. Much more on this in a future issue. 


The Cobbold Family History Trust 

“I thank the Ipswich Society for a most generous donation in support of the Friends of The 

Cobbold Family History Trust campaign. It gives me more pleasure than you can imagine to 

welcome the Society as a Foundation Benefactor. 


Of course, I am pleased with the financial element of your support (as all the campaign costs 

were met in advance, every penny donated goes directly to the cause), but I am additionally 

excited by two other factors. 


I judge that many members of my family who have gone before us, and who loved Ipswich, 

would be delighted to know that their contribution to the Borough continues to be recognised, 

recorded and appreciated. 


Also, as a relatively recent newcomer to Ipswich, and sadly only a part-timer, I interpret the 

Society’s support as something of an endorsement for what I am seeking to achieve, and I must 

add that there is no quarter from which I would rather it came. 


The Cobbold who is really at the heart of the family is John Cobbold (1746-1835) who we now 

refer to as ‘Big’ John Cobbold.  He is the one who married twice and had 22 children!…  [Here 

is] a silhouette image of him with his great-grandchild (1834) which I feel says ‘family’ in a 

rather charming and simple way.” 

Anthony Cobbold 

(www.cobboldfht.com


Historic Trade Lettering in Ipswich  

An Illustrated Talk by Borin Van Loon on December 18th 2013 


There was a full house (ninety plus in the audience) for this excellent talk, which was packed 

with information about our town - all superbly illustrated.  From The Emperor on Norwich 

Road through the town centre to the Co-operative shop and depot on Cauldwell Hall Road we 

visited a variety of trade lettering – messages from the past left by the working people of 

Ipswich.  They exhort us to use ‘Symonds for Kodaks’ (12 Upper Brook Street) and to shop 

‘For Palmer’s Door Mats &c.’ (63 Upper Orwell Street).  We can visit Wootton’s 

(hairdresser, 7 Tavern Street) for a whole list of items and services, including ‘leather goods, 

stationery, fountain pens, hot baths, hair brushes, fancy combs, permanent waving’. Take 

a look - there’s more! The bracing Co-op motto ‘Each for All & All for Each’ greets us in Carr Street and inside the Foxhall Road Co-op.  These last two are beautifully depicted and even better is the Art Nouveau ‘Scarborow’ (opticians) above the doorof Pickwicks in Dial Lane.  The pierced ‘Crown & Anchor Hotel’ sign above W H Smith is one of the joys of WestgateStreet and the newly restored ‘Price’ (the bootmaker) with its balustrade on the corner of Tacket Street is a visual treat.


The ‘Ransomes’ lettering on the Reflections Night Club in Wykes Bishop Street is a ‘shadow sign’ – the lettering is no more, but the grime around it outlines a spectral ‘Ransomes’.   There are other friendly ghosts in our streets. ‘Alfred Coe Builder’ left his name on a smallmetal plate on 6/8 Carr Street; ‘Fred Smith & Co’ ran ‘The Central Livery and Bait Stables’ in Princes Street; ‘C.Mills & Co.’ owned the ‘St Nicholas Foundry, Ipswich’ (on a hydrant cover in  Wootton panel, Tavern Street: ‘TOYS, GAMES,   Rope Walk). The two great modernist  FANCY CHINA, EBONY GOODS, CUTLERY’cranes preserved on the Island site will take the name of ‘Babcock’ into the future.  Let’s hope the same is true for the remaining dock tramway rails nearby with the inscription on the cover of a points lever, ‘No.60. supplied-by-Darlington Railway Plant & Fdy Co Ltd Darlington England.’


I have not covered everything (how can I with so much on offer?), but will finish with ‘Brand & Sons’ (the corsetmakers) on the decorative panel of that wonderful building on Tacket Street (see Newsletter no. 185, October 2011).  As our speaker said “Ipswich was huge in corsets” upuntil the early twentieth century! If you wish for more, visit Borin Van Loon’s web site: a treasure trove of delights at http://ipswich-lettering.org or use the link from the Ipswich Society web site. Thank you Borin.

Caroline Markham


A future for the past – our Building Preservation Trust 

‘Ipswich – the Industrial Capital of East Anglia’ – the Royal Show souvenir brochure in July 

1934 strikes the keynote: Ipswich is the leading manufacturing centre of Eastern England. Hand 

in hand with this forward-looking policy was the belief that where necessary the environment 

of the past should be swept away in the name of progress. By the 1960s the construction of 

Civic Drive marked the high point of this vision: an urban motorway would cut a traffic swathe 

across the historic centre. But by then the tide was turning. It was increasingly recognised that 

the character and quality of life in Ipswich was also determined by historical roots. Economic 

prosperity could go hand in hand with conservation. 


A positive consensus developed between conservation enthusiasts, Council members and 

officers, and the business community. Since 1978, all these groups have been represented on the 

committee of the Ipswich Building Preservation Trust. We monitor buildings at risk. We support 

the officers of the Borough in working to secure historic buildings. We are ready to play our 

part when buildings become available for restoration. 


Today evidence of the recent recession is inescapable: empty shops and half-completed 

developments blight the townscape. Factories which provided employment and prosperity for 

hundreds of years are demolished and almost forgotten.  


In this turbulent environment it is vital that a new generation of volunteers step forward to give 

their energies to the conservation movement, and to the work of the Trust. The following notes 

indicate some of the properties the Trust has been monitoring. What uses and solutions might 

Ipswich Society members suggest? 


Buildings at risk – County Hall, St Helen’s Street     Top of the list of neglected buildings must be County 

Hall. Once the headquarters of the County Council County Hall is the victim of a sorry saga of missed opportunity. Once it became empty it was vandalised and pillaged – lead from the roof and internal copper 

plumbing were stolen, rain poured in, and fittings including stained glass and the clock were destroyed. A 

wider remit of sale might have ensured that redevelopment on other parts of the site could have secured its future. The Officers of the Borough have been active in encouraging the owner to find a viable alternative and some temporary repairs have slowed the rate of decay. The Trust is on hand to bring together any parties who might with imagination and vision secure the restoration of this important historic building. 


Buildings at risk – St Michael’s, Upper Orwell Street. Just around the corner is Upper Orwell Street: one of the saddest streets in Ipswich. St Michael’s church fell victim to an arsonist just as it was 

being considered for an ecumenical community use. Full restoration now would probably be prohibitively expensive. It is a great loss – it had a beautiful late Victorian interior with fine brickwork, carving, and stained glass. The shops lining the road once included a good mix of small independent shops but the whole area appears blighted. The loss of the Co-operative retail outlets along Carr Street compounds the problem.  


We understand that the owners  have recently appointed a project manager who has a clear 

phased plan for repairs both to the church and the adjacent church hall.   


Buildings at risk – 1-5 College Street  Next door to Wolsey’s gateway the old Burtons 

offices stand empty. Long-term scaffolding obscures the façade and obstructs the pavement. During the building boom it was to be part of a comprehensive redevelopment but recent vandalism and storms have made the scaffolding unsafe and damaged the roof. Council Officers have encouraged the owners to undertake remedial work but even now vandals and arsonists would probably find access easy. The Trust would strongly support the Borough in issuing an Urgent Works Notice if this were necessary, and as a last resort to use their powers of compulsory purchase.   


Buildings at risk – The Old Bell This crumbling timber-framed pub across Stoke Bridge is blighted by traffic. The Trust has been monitoring its fortunes, and especially since it was purchased at auction a year or so ago. It is just the kind of building which the Trust came into being to save. The roof in particular requires urgent attention, and we again strongly support the Borough in carrying out its statutory duty to ensure the necessary repairs. We very much hope the new owners will soon be able to breathe new life into these buildings 


Buildings at risk – The Orangery,  Holywells Park Not long ago this building was in a terrible 

state. Having fallen prey to vandalism it was protected by yards of corrugated iron. But here 

is a success story: application has been made for grant aid through the Heritage Lottery  Fund  and the Big Lottery and it is scheduled to be restored as part of the facilities of Holywells Park. The Trust became involved in discussions regarding its future two years ago, and our Chairman has given substantial advice and support to the community group spearheading the project. It is a good example of the way the Trust can influence regeneration without  The Hollywells Orangery in happier times.actually taking on full project management. 


Thank you for reading this article. We would very much appreciate your support in our joint endeavour to keep Ipswich as an attractive place in which to live and work. You might like to consider joining the Trust as an individual or corporate member. If you have time and energy to become more closely involved please let us know. You will find a warm welcome from the Executive Committee.        

www.ipswichbuildingpreservationtrust.org.uk 

Bob Allen  


Contact the Trust’s Membership Secretary at 82 Hatfield Road, Ipswich IP3 9AG  

or email hancocks82@googlemail.com for details. 


Cornhill Regeneration Project

Report of a meeting


Given the amount of controversy and range of opinion expressed about the Ipswich Cornhill and 

plans for a £3.3 million makeover in recent months, a group from the Ipswich Society Executive 

Committee met Mark Hunter (Building & Design Services Manager for Ipswich Borough Council) 

at the end of February. Mark is the IBC officer in charge of the Cornhill project and he was able to 

put us in the picture on its progress.  


1. Who is driving this project? The panel is composed of Ipswich Borough Council (David 

Ellesmere, Leader of the council and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Ipswich seat), 

Suffolk County Council (Lucy Robinson, Director of Economy, Skills and Environment), 

University College Suffolk (Richard Lister, Provost and Chief Executive of UCS) and Ipswich 

Central (Paul Clement, Chief Executive) who are the funding partners. Initial stages of the project 

and judging of entries from architectural practices were chaired by Sir Stuart Rose, whose 

criticisms of our town were publicised at the time that he delivered a speech to a Beacon town 

conference in September 2012. Ben Gummer, MP for Ipswich also sits on the panel. IBC officers 

such as Gail Broom, Conservation Officer, and Mark Hunter himself are advisers to the panel. 


2. How much has it cost so far? £30,000 was available to fund the design competition for Cornhill 

Regeneration; six architectural practices originally entered and each practice received £6,000. The 

Design Contract has been awarded to the winning practice. 


3. What is the next step? Mark Hunter has been charged with writing a Cornhill Project Report to 

the Project Board. One important feature to come out of this informal meeting with him was that 

the town centre, in the shape of a reworked Cornhill, would not be the only part of the report (this 

is to be confirmed). Given the ancient street layout which has been largely maintained in Ipswich, a 

wider view of the town could take in:- 

(a) a southern gateway (Stoke Bridge, the river and Wet Dock, St Peter’s on the Waterfront) and the 

way in which this might be linked with the centre via St Peter’s, St Nicholas and Queen Streets, 

given the barrier of heavy traffic in College Street and Star Lane; 

(b) a northern gateway (a hopefully developed and improved ‘Cultural Quarter’ around the Ipswich 

Museum) and the ways in which this might be linked with the centre, perhaps via High Street and 

Museum and Westgate Streets, given the barrier of heavy traffic in Crown Street. 


4. Once this report is written and delivered, a funding strategy is required, which will probably take 

the rest of 2014. 


5. The selected architectural practice will be given the go-ahead to work up full designs once 

funding has been sought. The final design is not in place yet, but changes will not be radically 

different from the winning concept. 


6. If funding cannot be found would another scheme be considered? Probably not, as the decision 

driving this is that the present Cornhill ‘is not working’ and that just repaving it ‘won’t solve it’. 

Level access to the Town Hall is seen as a key factor. The function of the Town Hall needs to be 

determined, given that most administrative staff work from Grafton House. Mark is fully aware 

that Ipswich Town Hall remains an issue, an asset not being fully utilised.  One possibility is that 

The Ipswich Society could survey other grand Town Hall buildings across the land and establish 

their alternative uses, which work and which do not, which attract footfall and which make money 

(see the Chairman’s remarks on page 4). 


7. Will there be consultation with other bodies and the people of Ipswich? Yes, full consultation so 

that societies and individuals can express opinions. The overall impression from the meeting is that 

there is a very long way to go in the process. 


Our thanks to Mark Hunter for giving us his time and answering our questions so fully.          

R.G. 


Snippets 2 

Floods and Houses 

The warm winter of flooding should be gone by the time you read this.  With the processions of 

gales and rain coming from the west, Ipswich was spared the hideous problems faced by many 

householders further west and in such places as the Thames Valley.  Our new flood barrier on the 

Orwell wouldn’t have been needed even if completed.  But it will come into its own at some future 

dates.  It’s been very strange however to hear the many discussions about the stupidity of building 

houses on flood plains without any reference to what the Environment Agency has insisted on for 

years in Ipswich that such building can go ahead if living areas are all above ground floor level.  

Regulations have stipulated that only garages, storage areas, shops etc. are allowed at ground 

level.  Living accommodation must be on the floor(s) above, as in Patteson Road for example and 

all the flats on the Waterfront.  The Environment Agency doesn’t make these regulations for 

Ipswich alone!  Admittedly, all these hard surfaces are deleterious to a flood plain, but if houses 

must be built there at least the residents wouldn’t drown, nor even have their carpets soaked. 


‘Ipswich Garden Suburb’ 

The public consultation about the Masterplan for the Northern Fringe has now finished.  The 

strategic designs involving the three new sub-areas are well conceived.  It will be important that 

the different firms of private developers stick to the plan and that quality of building isn’t 

sacrificed to cost cutting.  The problems associated with all the extra cars gushing on to Valley 

Road especially at ‘rush hours’ (!) will not go away.  It seems possible that many of the new 

residents would be people unable to afford to live in Greater London.  If so, then Westerfield 

station ought to be a vital link for commuters.  Network Rail and whoever will be the operating 

rail franchisee then should be fully made aware of this valuable potential which would become 

viable when significant numbers of the new houses are built and occupied. 


Council Houses 

It is regrettable that the building of council houses has been such a political issue ever since the 

‘Right to Buy’ policy was introduced nationally.  We all know that the London housing market has 

gone crazy but other parts of the south-east, including Ipswich, have seen such price inflation that 

younger generations face problems unknown to those who bought or rented properties up to, say, 

the 1960s.  Adding to ‘affordable’ housing provided by housing associations, the Borough 

Council’s hopes to build 108 houses at Bader Close, 30 at Whitehouse and 77 at Ravenswood will 

surely make a valuable contribution.  Opponents who state that private developers are keen to 

build affordable properties under-estimate the need for such developers to make substantial profit 

margins.  This is clearly illustrated at St Clement’s Hospital site where IBC is permitted to insist 

that such a large development should include 35% of affordable homes.  The developers wanted 

that reduced to about 4.5%.  Rather too big a gap for a good old British compromise, so the 

proposal to build has been withdrawn. 


I reported back in January 2013 that Bradford has suffered a 23 acre hole in the town centre since 

a proposed Shopping Centre was stalled by the recession back in 2008.  I am pleased to report that 

work has finally started on the scheme (Feb 2014).  Just to put things in perspective Bradford is 

the fourth largest Metropolitan District in England, there are 1 million people in the catchment and 

the City is predicted to grow by 10% over the next decade (somewhat more dynamic than 

Ipswich).   

Westfield, the Australian property developer, has recommended that building work commences 

after almost six years of delay.  The derelict site, which prompted fury among local residents, 

became one of the symbols of the recession in the UK.  Westfield put the Broadway development 

on hold in 2008 as concerns grew about whether there would be enough demand among retailers 

to fill the shopping centre. 

However, the company has now let more than 50pc of the 570,000 sq ft (53,000 sq m) centre, 

which includes more than 70 shops, with Debenhams, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s all 

signed up. J.N. 


DTZ Report on Ipswich town centre 

The DTZ Report into Ipswich’s town centre probably tells us what we already knew, if only we 

were to face the obvious.  Ipswich’s shoppers are no longer flooding into the high street to do their 

shopping.  In fact, the British Retail Consortium suggests footfall in December was 2.5% lower than 

the previous year, and December with its all important Christmas trade is the barometer for the year. 


Where I think DTZ have got it wrong is in their analysis of alternative destinations to Ipswich town 

centre.  They suggest high street spend is going to Colchester, Bury, Woodbridge and Felixstowe. 

They fail to report that Ipswich folk, most of whom, I suspect, are not travelling very far on a 

regular basis for their comparison shopping, are choosing Ransome Way, Martlesham or Copdock. 


Clearly decision-free car parking has a major influence and by decision-free I mean that there is no 

stress in trying to decide the duration of your stay as you arrive.  Just pull up, park, shop, browse, 

enjoy a coffee and leave.  No need to watch the clock, stressing that your hour may be up, your 

ticket expired and the warden issuing fines. 


The other factor to get shoppers back to the town centre is variety: variety that involves a leisure 

offer.  DTZ suggest that Ipswich is under-provided with town centre pubs and restaurants, (3% 

below the UK average of 16%) and entertainment venues (12.7%, UK average 15.4%).  The latter 

will be partially fulfilled when Vue Cinemas finally convert part of the Buttermarket Shopping 

Centre but these changes won’t necessarily provide people (footfall) and the local authority need to 

be proactive. 


It is essential that town centre offices are fully occupied and that office workers pop out for the 

occasional sandwich, the lunchtime shop or something for tea on the way home. 


So who do I envisage occupying these offices?  How about the Local Authorities themselves 

(Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council)?   By moving people and departments out 

of Grafton House, Endeavour House and Constantine House and into Princes Street, Museum Street 

and Lower Brook Street.  Whole departments operating perhaps marginally less efficiently than at 

present but providing life and spending power on the Cornhill. 


Even DTZ agree with my previous suggestion of additional residential units in the town centre.  The 

future of Cox Lane is not the Mint Quarter, or the Cloisters but a mixed use scheme of town houses 

and apartments.  Will the former Civic Centre site – Westgate – ever make a shopping centre?   I 

doubt it, given the exodus of shoppers from high streets across the country, but it would make a 

superb residential quarter, enhanced by the almshouses of Black Horse Lane, a pub and a theatre on 

site and easily accessible by car from Civic Drive.  DTZ suggest this site has clear advantages over 

‘The Link’ (the former EADT printing works) in Lower Brook Street. 


But, and this is critically important, Westgate is only a few steps from the retail offer of Marks & 

Spencer, Debenhams and Next.  The DTZ Report drops names of retailers who might, just might, 

come to Ipswich. I think it more important to ensure that we keep those we’ve already got.   

Incidentally the brownfield developments suggested above will go one third of the way to providing 

the numbers planned on the greenfield Northern Fringe. 

John Norman  


Facts and Figures from the DTZ Report: 

Ipswich Town Centre 


1.3 million square feet of retail space 

570 retail outlets 


17.5% vacant units (UK average, circa 14%) 

20% vacant floor space (UK Average 12%) 


A lack of independent shops – viz 

Multiples = 37% [of floor space] (UK average 29%) 


[DTZ is a global real estate adviser based in Chicago, its parent company is UGL Ltd. DTZ's history dates 

back to 1784 with the founding predecessor firm, Cheshire Gibson established in Birmingham. A second 

predecessor firm, Debenham and Tewson was founded in Cheapside, London in 1853.] 


The Ipswich Society 

www.ipswichsociety.org.uk 


email: secretary@ipswichsociety.org.uk 

Registered Charity no. 263322 


This Newsletter is the magazine of Ipswich’s civic amenity society established in 1960 



Dates for your diary 

Ipswich Society Outings 2014 

Saturday 26 April 2014           Audley End, Essex 

Wednesday 21 May  2014           Ipswich Waterfront walk 

June 19 2014                  Building Stones walk (with Bob Markham), Ipswich 

August 4 2014              Houses of Parliament, London 

Tuesday 16 September 2014   Barrow Boys and Bankers, London 

Ipswich Society Annual General Meeting, Venue: UCS Waterfront Building. 7.30pm, 

Wednesday April 30; speaker: Richard Lister, Provost and Chief Executive of University 

Campus Suffolk. 


@ Do contact the Hon. Secretary if you would like to receive 

the Newsletter by email, rather than the paper version. It 

has been positively received by those who have opted for it. @


Newsletter deadlines & publication dates (the latter may vary by a few days) 

Deadline for material: December 1;     Publication date: 22 January 

              March 1;         2 April  

   June 1;              17 July 

   September 1;         9 October



Society 

Awards 

2013


Commendation: 52 Degrees North   (Pegasus sculpture, Latitude development, Ravenswood) by Catherine Richardson & Paul Richardson of Steel Sculptures and Eliot Sayer, Landscape engineer. 


(More about the St Margaret’s Plain repaving scheme in our next issue.)


High Commendation: Refurbishment of the interior of Lloyds Bank on the Cornhill. Lloyds Bank plc.


Issue 195 April 2014

© 2024 The Ipswich Society, Registered Charity Number: 263322

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