July 2024 Issue 238

Contents

Editorial 2

Tributes to John Norman 17

New members 2

Aldeburgh Festival 1951 book 19

Interim Chair’s remarks 3

The Three Cups and The Spotted Cow 21

Searching the online Image Archive 3

Band of brothers book, final edition 22

Planning matters 4

Memories of Neil Salmon 23

George Frost Workshop 6

Loo of the Year 24

The 11 Presidents of our Museum (2) 7

Letters to the Editor 25

Great White Horse Project 10

Tourist Guides news 26

Network Rail, Ely Junction 12

Introducing Graham Lambert 26

New Blue Plaque: Dr G.H.A. Clowes 13

Ipswich Art Society Annual Open Show 26

Titchmarsh & Goodwin at Roundwood 14

Society officers and contacts 27

The Black Tiles closure 15

Diary dates 27

Eastern Chronology 1922 16

Newsletter deadlines 27

Ipswich Minster 16

The Wet Dock from the Island site 28

Front cover photograph: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the town and opened the new Civic

College in July 1961. The only features in this scene which remain today are Bernard Reynolds’ Pylons

relief sculptures – which still stand in their original positions in front of today’s Suffolk New College.

From our online Image Archive donated by the family of George Heath, former headmaster of Tower

Ramparts secondary school. See also the Fore Street Facelift 1961 mini-site on the Society’s website.

Editorial

My list, in April’s Editorial, of organisations celebrating an anniversary this year should have

included Ipswich Chamber Choir which celebrates its 40th birthday – and sometimes includes

jazz in its performances. There may even be others…

With Ipswich Town FC’s promotion to the Premier League in May after a 22-year absence from

the top tier, it will be interesting to see the effects on the club and the town in the future. My

predecessor as Editor, the late Neil Salmon (see page 23) – as a stalwart Ipswich supporter

through the long, thin years – would have been breathing a sigh of relief and celebration.

Our late Chair, John Norman, makes several appearances in this Newsletter and your Editor will

sorely miss his regular and often invaluable contributions over the years, as well as his

knowledge and advice. My grateful thanks go to all the contributors who

took time to send material for this Newsletter, particularly during a period New members

of regrouping for the The Ipswich Society Executive Committee. New G. Smith

initiatives are in the pipeline and, as ever, we rely on the large number of

Society members who maintain their subscriptions and give us the bona D. Shirley

fides to do all that we do for them and for Ipswich.

Robin Gaylard

St Clement Church as a large, light art

gallery, May-June 2024. See page 26.

Interim Chair’s remarks

The Executive Committee has grown in recent weeks with the addition of two new co-opted

members. Nick Wilson, having taken early retirement from a career in technology consulting, has

joined us. Departing Leicester University Department for Victorian Studies, he has a background

in education and a particular interest in social history. Graham Lambert – the ‘L’ in KLH – now

retired from one of the most prominent architectural practices in the area, has joined us in a

co-opted position to serve initially as Interim Vice-Chairman. Both of these members will bring

to the Society a wealth of experience, also the depth of knowledge of their individual fields, from

which we will all benefit.

We should also remember that the very able Mandy Gaylard was also co-opted and approved at

the recent AGM as an assistant in planning to Dr Mike Cook.

An interest in the Executive Committee and the work that we do continues, with offers of

assistance and experience from the worlds of the environment and business to the committee.

All of this interest and more is always welcome.

We are experiencing an important period in the life of the Society. This phase of transition from a

Chairman who could exert a tremendous influence, was warmly regarded and affected very broad

aspects of the life of the town, to someone with a new vision and a novel impetus is crucial to the

future of the Society as we reform our Executive Committee.

One important aspect of this transition has been a careful consideration of the various roles of

members of the committee. This process began during the latter stages of our late Chairman’s

tenure in the last year. Each member of the Executive Committee has produced what is

essentially a profile of the role they undertake. This has enabled a close examination of the sort

of participation we individually undertake, but also, it will be pivotal in enabling successors to

perceive quite clearly, what they might individually contribute to the Society when joining

the committee.

The role of Interim Chair, which I’ve been undertaking since John Norman’s resignation is a new

one, and we are all hopeful that it will soon become redundant, once we attract and confirm a

new Chairperson.

Mapping out the activities for the year has enabled a refocusing of our work and the commitment

we wish to pursue. The summer extravaganza with ‘Brass on the Grass’ in August becomes a

keen target for our promotion and celebration. Heritage Open Days 2024, in the adept hands of

Melanie Willis of Ipswich Central, will provide new approaches we might adopt when we return

to it next in 2025. Our winter lectures are enticing in their content and the awards event in

November is contemplated with no less anticipation: remember, your nominations are essential

as only our broad membership can provide the widest overview of projects hidden away in your

own ‘manors’.

Please keep an eye open and let us know.

Tony Marsden, Interim Chair

Searching the Ipswich Society Image Archive

The online Image Archive is a huge and growing resource of photographs and information.

The easiest way to access it is via the Flickr logo at the bottom of our website’s

Homepage. To search only within our archive, click on ‘Photostream’, then on the

magnifying glass icon. The search box at the top now shows ‘The Ipswich Society|Photos’

and you can enter a search term such as ‘Tacket Street’ and press ‘Search’. You can adjust

your search at any time using the search box at the top of the screen.

Planning matters

I am pleased to tell you that Mandy Gaylard has taken on the task of assisting me in Planning matters.

Whilst I am housebound, her main role will be to attend meetings such as the Planning & Development

Committee and the Conservation & Design Panel. She has considerable experience as a county

councillor and as a co-opted member of the panel. She will bring much needed attention to detail and

knowledge to these reports.

M.C.

Gym and Trim, Lower Orwell Street. This proposal to convert the building to 16 flats is welcome in

principle but has many major problems against it. Buried remains of Late Saxon and mediaeval

town defences, and a section of C14 precinct wall to the Dominican friary of the Ipswich Blackfriars

Scheduled Monument lie beneath the car park and a proposed extension. The 120 page Heritage Asset

Assessment in the application papers online is well worth reading; it describes in detail all the Heritage

Assets within 200 metres, the application and description of the effects of the proposals. Additionally

there are maps dating back to 1610 and photographs. Summing up, it states ‘The proposed development

has the potential to impact upon the significance of designated heritage assets within the vicinity of the

site.’ Until the archaeology is sorted out, permission cannot be granted.

Tye Road. The developers of the proposed five-storey student accommodation lost their appeal solely

on the grounds of the lack of amenity space for the students; unfortunately IBC will have to pay the

costs of part of the appeal they lost.

Phase 3a and 3b of Crest Nicholson Henley Gate. The site is to the east of Henley Road just beyond

the railway. 96 dwellings. These are standard ‘large development’ in appearance. We support the

Northern Fringe Protection Group’s representation. There are some problems with flood arrangements

that have to be sorted out before the Flood Team at SCC withdraw their holding objection. Dwellings

will have solar panels but no increase in cavity wall distance.

Land east of Westerfield Road and close to and south of railway. Bellway's application for Phase 1

comprising 198 dwellings, an electricity substation, landscaping, open space. We support the Northern

Fringe Protection Group’s representation. We are particularly concerned that there are no plans to

connect the internal cycle/pedestrian routes to the town centre. The houses will have solar panels but no

mention of cavity walls; air-source heat pumps, by the time they are built, will be installed.

Land north of railway and 200m east of Henley Road. This ‘reserved matters’ application by Barrat/

David Wilson Homes is for 93 dwellings, roads and associated parking, roads and cycle ways. Design

response could be summed up by this quote from the Design and Access Statement: ‘Architecture that is

principally contemporary in character, using predominantly brickwork with render’ and the box is

ticked! We support the Northern Fringe Protection Group’s concern as to the failure to deliver the

opening of the railway bridges, cycle routes and country park to time.

Land north of Humber Doucy Lane. This large application for 660 dwellings (30% affordable) is

by two applicants, Barrat David Wilson and Hopkins Homes of Melton on a site zoned for housing.

Two-thirds are in Ipswich BC and one third lies in East Suffolk. The site is north of Humber Doucy

Lane, extending eastwards from Tuddenham Road north of Westerfield House care village and back

to HDL as far as Ipswich Rugby Football Club. This proposal is open to objection on many grounds.

The application was opposed by the National Highways Agency and refused by planning officers.

Portman Road. This is an outline application by IBC to erect a seven storey car park on the existing

Portman Road car park, together with a single storey administrative building, an electricity

substation, a small public square and resiting of the access road to Friars Bridge Road, This is to

facilitate the building of the proposed Aquatics Centre. Appearance and landscaping details will be

available in a later application.

42 Belvedere Road. Permission for the addition of three small houses on this site was refused

because it would have been out of character and would create a precedent for similar backland

developments. The appeal was upheld. The Inspector disagreed. This is the first full loss of an appeal

for a long time.

47 Key Street. There's a proposal to demolish the unsatisfactory and damaging 1990s additions at the

west end of the Paul’s building. This seems fine to me; I don’t think it will affect the Jewish cemetery

or the 17th century listed office building – if anything an improvement. Additionally they wish to

cover the south roof with solar panels.I would not object if done well, but it is in the Waterfront

Conservation area and would affect the outlook from several high listed buildings.

The Station Hotel, Burrell Road. Currently, there are no accessible toilets here; however the

proposal to place a converted container behind the pub (which is locally listed) where seen from the

bridge and river is unacceptable. They should build a proper one.

10 Queen Steet. Three flats with some invisible dormer windows and a roof light are proposed for

the upper two storeys of this retail building.

31 Princes Street. This is an application to convert the vacated Direct Line Insurance offices to 60

one-bedroom flats, 55 being one-person only with a floor area of between 37 and 44 square metres.

(6.5m x 6.5m = 20ft x 20ft). Permission has been previously granted for 31 flats; however the

regulations for permitted development have recently changed thus this increase is allowed. Note

planning permission is not needed but the developer has to inform the LPA of their intentions and

fulfil certain conditions. Thus the economic drivers of our Town centre are being converted into

substandard accommodation.

19 Tavern Street (west corner with Tower Street). Another conversion of above retail

accommodation to three two bedroom flats. They will be of a reasonable size.

Ipswich Museum. This application by PRS, the project’s conservation architects, details the methods

that have been agreed by IBC, the Museum, PRS and the contractors on the protection of of the

building and its fixtures and fittings, the displays and the cabinets. It is full and careful. For instance,

the Mammoth has been wrapped in conservation grade materials and then a solid case with a resistant

ceiling will be constructed around it. A false debris-fall and dust resistant barrier will be constructed

between the ground and first floors.

Mike Cook

Care Home, 1 Kettlebaston Way. Outcome: The application was passed by seven votes to four.

49 Constable Road. Change of use from a dwelling house (Class C3) to a five-bed residential care

home (Class C2). Outcome: approved with conditions.

48-68 Carr Street. This is important for The Society; the listing of the Co-op mural was partly due to

John Norman’s campaigning. Prior to moving the mural to safe storage, asbestos was discovered. This

proposal will allow the mosaic to remain in situ. The two storeys above the mosaic will be removed, the

windows repealed with metal panels and a new brick wall will be built to the east where the new

school will be built. Its position will allow the school to refer to its history. It is supported both by the

Conservation Officer and the C20 Society, with concerns that protection of the mosaic during

construction should be a condition. Note that IBC will take over protection of the art work when the

building work is complete. Outcome: This planning application was passed unanimously.

Old County Hall, St Helens Street. This proposal was approved by the P&D Committee on 8 January

2020; the building works with one exception are unchanged. However, the recent Financial

Viability Assessment calculates a 10.2% net profit with the Section106 costs at £286,000 after inflation

and the provision of affordable housing. If the Section106 costs were removed and no provision of three

units affordable housing made, the net profit rises to 12.27% compared to an expected 20% on

developments of this kind. Outcome: Unviable, fees waived – unanimous decision. At the planning

meeting, it was agreed that the owner, Mr Harris, would have to carry out work on the historic parts of

the building before occupants could be allowed in. After this was added, the councillors approved the

complete building consent unanimously as well. The site will feature 29 one-bed flats and 10 two-bed

homes, with the former Council Chamber becoming a three-bed flat. It would also have 18 parking

spaces, and a heritage space would be opened within the building to ensure that the public can visit it on

open days.

Conservation and Design Panel. 1 Halifax Road. Erection of two-storey dwelling and associated

parking. The proposed site is on land between Stoke Green Baptist Church and the house at 1 Halifax

Road.

65 Berners Street. Erection of a two-storey building, study on the lower floor and bathroom on floor

above. Replacement of existing windows with timber, double glazed units. And a pre-app.

Mandy Gaylard

George Frost Workshop

Following the unveiling of our blue plaque to George Frost last year (literally at the coffee and

cake break after the formalities) Emma Roodhouse, Art Curator at Ipswich Museum, agreed to

run a workshop on the Ipswich artist George Frost for The Ipswich Society and The Friends of

Ipswich Museum.

On Monday April 22 we gathered in the Tudor Room at Christchurch Mansion (which is closed

to the public on Mondays), and Emma told us about the man and his move to Ipswich in the late

1770s to work with the Blue Coach Company in Lower Brook Street. For the next few years, he

trained himself in landscape drawing around Ipswich – he was ‘in search of Thomas

Gainsborough’, being a fan and collector of the earlier artist and almost certainly collaborated

with his contemporary, John Constable in this. He retired in the early part of the 19th century,

moving to his final home on/near the Common Quay (hence the location of our blue plaque) and

it was during these last years of his life that he produced much of his best work.

Ipswich Museum has 400-plus artworks attributed to Frost, including two albums with drawings

pasted into them. We moved through to the Estate Office where Emma had brought these albums

and other Frost works – in charcoal, pencil, chalk, and a few with colouring – out of the store for

us to view. We were privileged to see the real thing, but Emma spent much of her time during the

Covid restrictions digitising the collection and it is now on the Art UK web site Frost, George,

1745–1821 | Art UK* for us all to share.

A big thank you to Emma for sharing her knowledge and to the Friends of Ipswich Museum for

enabling the event (and especially for the tea and biscuits!).

Caroline Markham

[*https://artuk.org/discover/artists/frost-george-17451821]

George Frost – Stoke Bridge; credit: Ipswich Museum and Art UK

Edward Packard Senior

The Eleven Presidents of Ipswich Museum

(Notes from a talk for the Ipswich Society, December

2023 – Part 2; Part 3 next issue)

Edward Packard, Senior (President 1895-1899)

Edward Packard was a chemist and fertiliser manufacturer (his son of the same name continued the business after his father’s death: be careful not to mix them up!).

The bad harvests of 1839, ‘40 and ‘41, potato blight in 1845, and the Corn Laws repeal in 1846 – the ‘Hungry

Forties’ -still resonate today when we follow ‘A Christmas Carol’ (1843) or ‘Jane Eyre’ (1847). There was a shortage of phosphatic manure, (peas and beans need phosphate to grow and we need phosphate for our bones and teeth) because the breakdown of natural manure by micro-organisms takes time. There was a way out – artificial manure, immediately available to plants.

About 1840 chemist Justin von Liebig discovered that the action of sulphuric acid upon bones produced ‘superphosphate’ (calcium hydrogen phosphate with calcium sulphate) which is soluble in water and thus

immediately absorbed by plants. This soon led to a shortage of animal bones (and human bones from Europe). A further way out presented itself. In 1843 John Stevens Henslow discovered ‘coprolite’ (phosphate-rich) stones in the Red Crag cliffs at Felixstowe, leading to Edward Packard’s fertiliser works at Coprolite Street in Ipswich. That discovery saved England (from starvation) and Europe (from having its cemeteries raided for bones). Geologists visit

Ipswich to have their photograph taken in Coprolite Street (the only one in the world) – one of

our valued heritage sites.

At Ipswich Museum, Edward Packard’s donations included, in 1880 the (Jurassic) Ichthyosaur

from Somerset, set into the wall of the landing at the top of the front staircase; and in 1882,

apparatus, chemicals and desks for the Chemical Laboratory in the School of Science.

E Ray Lankester (President 1901-1929)

Ray Lankester was a zoologist, and a giant of a man, both intellectually and physically. His

grandfather lived at Melton, not far from where, in the 1860s and 70s, crag coprolite diggings

were at their peak. As a student under Thomas Henry Huxley at the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, London, he named a crag fossil walrus Trichechus huxleyi in 1865 when aged 18.

In May 1905, when Director of the British Museum (Natural History) in London, he received the replica Diplodocus skeleton from Andrew Carnegie. These were years of conflict for Ray Lankester, who considered his Natural History branch museum ‘enslaved’ by the British Museum (whose Director was a Librarian). He was forced to retire, aged 60, by the British Museum in 1907. However, he received a knighthood, and the Archbishop of Canterbury secured him an enhanced pension.

Sir Ray found a new cause in 1910 after reading in The Times that James Reid Moir of Ipswich had found a large flaked flint, said to be of human origin, at a site in Dales Road, Ipswich. This was in the same crag coprolite horizon he had investigated as a student. The interpretation was controversial (because the flints were more ancient than any previously discovered) , and a prize specimen was named the Norwich Test Specimen (being found near that city) and of which Ray Lankester regarded its acceptance (or otherwise) as ‘a test of a person’s intelligence’. There were critics of this stance, including a cartoon Christmas card, 1915 by Frederick Haywood, written on the back

with ‘I shall be hung and quartered in Ipswich for this’. At a meeting in Oxford Professor Sollas, inspecting a flint ‘borer’ from the Suffolk crag commented, ’We have borers here that do not bore’, to which Sir Ray replied, ‘You Sir, are not a borer who does not bore’. The Oxford Magazine 1912 recorded how the Knight of Ipswich, ‘of proportions Herculean’ beat the Oxford Professor.

H G Wells visited Ipswich Museum in 1927 to inspect these crag flints. He had been a student of Ray Lankester many years previously and in Wells’ book ‘Marriage’, 1912 Sir Ray was the model for Sir Roderick Dover of ‘healthy corpulence’.

James Reid Moir (President

1929-1944) Ray Lankester acknowledgedJames Reid Moir was a gentlemen’s outfitter, with a business in the Buttermarket. After his letter to The Times in 1910 which was noticed by Ray Lankester, the two men worked together on ’the early Stone Age’ as they viewed it. James Reid Moir was also a very strong character whom one did not disagree with – prehistorian Abbe Breuil wrote in 1915 ‘it is very difficult to discuss with these gentlemen’. But the crag flints were a great draw to many - the American Museum of Natural History Students European Prehistory Tour visited the flints at Ipswich Museum in 1924, and Louis Leakey of Nairobi Museum visited in 1931. James Reid

Moir employed John Baxter of Dales Road brickyard to do his excavating during fieldwork, for

decency on Sundays the spade was carried in a specially made canvas bag.

On 28 July 1939, the Daily Herald leaked news of the ship at Sutton Hoo, discovered by Ipswich

Museum’s archaeological excavator Basil Brown - to enable the East Anglian Daily Times their

sought-for big scoop, Ipswich Museum had given it the correct information. Charles Phillips of

Selwyn College, Cambridge University’s archaeological excavator was exceedingly angry at this

and, it was said, intended to go into Ipswich and ‘horsewhip’ the people at the Museum. Ipswich

Museum and Cambridge University were already barely on speaking terms - not helped by

Charles Phillips assisting Cambridge University to take over the Prehistoric Society from

Ipswich Museum in 1935. In 1939 the same Cambridge people reappeared to take over

excavation of the Sutton Hoo ship. Charles Phillips wrote of Ipswich Museum President James

Reid Moir, ‘a good bespoke tailor but overbearing and belligerent’. James Reid Moir on Charles

Phillips, ‘as an archaeologist I have no doubt he is adequate, but as a man he is over-riding,

bumptious and tactless, a typical product of modern Cambridge’. Antagonism between Ipswich

Museum and Charles Phillips continued for many years after the 1939-1945 war.

James Reid Moir died in 1944. His memorial included an inscribed oak seat by the oak tree

(‘Moir’s Oak’) he saved, at the junction of Westwood Avenue and Valley Road, whilst at Ipswich

Museum the Prehistory Room (archaeology gallery) was named after him. With his death, support for Lankester and Reid Moir’s humanly-chipped crag flints fell sharply, and by 2012 Professors Paul Pettit and Mark White of Durham University wrote of the ‘pointless debate’. Museums, including Ipswich, disposed of their crag flints and at

Ipswich the J. Reid Moir Prehistory Room was dismantled to redisplay ethnography. But not all of the crag flints went – I hid local ones within the Museum (even though I was retired and a volunteer by then), for they were intriguing specimens in their own right – to appear again one day. (That day did arrive, and they are safe again.)

Bob Markham (Part 3 next issue)

Great White Horse Project

Caroline Markham, Graham Lambert, and I, attended the evening briefing on Wednesday 29 Mayregarding plans for the Great White Horse Hotel (GWH) in Tavern/Northgate Streets. It was well supported.

The briefing took place in the indoor courtyard area of the old hotel and was followed by networking and

tours of parts of the building; we were encouraged to make suggestions.

The introduction was delivered by David Tavern Street from the former Starbucks. All Matthews from St Mary le event photographs by Caroline Markham.Tower Church, who set the scene and then introduced the representative for the new owners: Sandeep Dayal.

Sandeep Dayal then explained his experience in hotel management in Essex and London and their ambitions to restore the GWH as the town’s premier hotel, with ambitions to exceed other hotels in the area including The Salthouse on the Waterfront.

They were using the grant-funding of £99,400 to understand what would be required to restore the building and to prepare a bid for further grant-funding with plans for a three-to-four year project. The current thinking is to establish the ground floor as retail and community space and to then base the hotel accommodation above and behind. There are over 60 bedrooms, but the existing rooms are too small for the customers they are looking to attract.

Shaun Soanes and Loriana Jaconelli from Nicholas Jacobs Partners, the local architects engaged for the review, then gave a briefing on the current state of the building and challenges the project would face.

The tours then took place. We were shown a number of rooms including the coffee shop (formerly

Starbucks) on the ground floor, the two large function rooms on the first floor and the ‘Dickens Room’, presented as his study/bedroom in the corner room on the second floor. Lots of the rooms looked to be in a poor state of repair but there were some exceptions.

The two large, high-ceilinged function rooms, which had at some point probably been joined,otherwise looked

to be largely original Georgian from when the new front was built and were very promising.

As mentioned, we were encouraged to share and discuss thoughts on the future of the building

generally and specifically the ground floor. Cards were handed out so that those attending could

pass on their ideas.

The use of the ground floor for a community and heritage hub was certainly exciting. The scale of the work to create a serious hotel was daunting!

Ideas for the ground floor included:-

* a high-end coffee shop,

* tourist information and book shop,

* resident artists’ workshop,

* local art gallery,

* heritage and study area,

* meeting rooms,

* (first floor) a restaurant.

Nick Wilson

Network Rail, Ely Junction

You have no doubt heard of the need to upgrade the rail network at Ely to increase capacity, but

possibly don’t understand the current situation (capacity limitations).

The problem is simple, albeit not an easy one to solve. Simple in the fact that five railway lines

converge at Ely with numerous passenger services vying for the limited space (as does the freight

traffic to and from Felixstowe). The main north-south line through Ely is the West Anglia line,

from Kings Lynn to London. There is a branch to Norwich heading northeast and the line from

Ipswich (southeast of Ely) to Peterborough (northwest) which as well as an infrequent passenger

service also carries the containers from Felixstowe.

Additionally there are a number of other services sharing the junction capacity including

Norwich – Stansted, Norwich – Liverpool (via Peterborough) and Birmingham - Stansted. There

are less frequent services to Nottingham, Sheffield, and Manchester. Ely is served by four

different Rail Operating Companies, Great Northern, Greater Anglia, Cross Country, and East

Midlands Railway.

Being in the middle of the Fens all of these lines are ‘at grade’, that is all are at the same level

and all need to, at some stage run along the West Anglia Main Line restricting its high speed

traffic. The line from Ipswich (and Felixstowe) joins the West Anglia Main Line south of Ely

station, whereas the lines from Peterborough and Norwich join further north, a distance of some

3 km between junctions. Thus the section through Ely station, which happens to cross the river

three times, is incredibly busy.

Clearly the proposal to increase capacity is expensive but once the improvements have been

carried out frequency should increase from six trains per hour to ten trains per hour, probably the

most important of which is an additional container train from Felixstowe (an increase from two

to three each hour).

The advantage of this to the residents of Southeast Suffolk – or an increase in frequency of trains

to Peterborough and thus onto the East Coast Main Line, and possibly a reduction in journey

times over the same route. The increase in the number of freight trains will hopefully reduce the

number of HGVs on the A14.

John Norman

New Blue Plaque: Dr. George Henry

Alexander Clowes

High Street Ipswich, March 16th, sunny and surprisingly warm - a large group of people met in the small garden to the left of the Museum entrance to celebrate the unveiling of our twenty-eighth Blue Plaque.

Organised by our Plaque-master Tony Robson we were gathered opposite 54, High Street where the plaque to Dr. George Henry Alexander Clowes [pronounced ‘Clewes’].

There was a brief and detailed introduction from Tonyabout the early life of Clowes, noting his attendance at

Ipswich School, learning also of his brilliant studies to become a biochemist. After studying in England and on the continent he emigrated to the United States when he carried out research into cancer. Clowes joined a large pharmaceutical company initially as a staff biochemist, but within a year he was promoted to Head of Research & Development where, in 1923, he oversaw the successful purification, standardisation and mass production of the lifesaving drug, insulin.

Dr Brian Swann – who initially proposed the plaque for Clowes – then spoke about the genesis and advancement of the work to isolate insulin, carried out initially by the team of Canadian scientists. This was a fascinating account in itself and certainly deserving of articulation at a celebration of Clowes himself. Dr Swann is to be thanked for his

initial idea and the persistence with which he has pursued this outcome – as well as his involvement on the day.

We also have to thank the owner of the property Simon Wild and his wife Vicky, both in attendance, for their

enthusiastic permission to install the plaque.

Finally, after the unveiling we were invited to the Headmaster’s study in Ipswich School for coffee and cakes by Nick Weaver the departing Headmaster.

We are grateful for the gesture from the school, acknowledging the Old Ipswichian: Clowes one amongst many, many greats who have distinguished the school in its history.

Tony Marsden

Titchmarsh & Goodwin at Roundwood

Edward White's 1867 map clearly shows 'Roundwood' north of the junction of Rushmere Road

and Woodbridge Road, so called from the wood of the estate which formed a near-circle. John

Kirby, who also owned Little Roundwood (still standing on the northern section of Sidegate

Lane), rebuilt The Roundwood on or near the site of an earlier house, around 1700. For many

years the house was under copyhold from Christchurch Manor. It remained in the ownership of

the Kirby family until it was purchased by a very distinguished new owner in 1798.

Admiral Lord Nelson, who was born in Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk, spent the last months of

1797 in London recuperating from the amputation of his arm (following the battle at Santa Cruz

de Tenerife). During this time he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London and an annual

pension of £1,000 a year. He used the money to buy Round Wood Farm near Ipswich, and

apparently intended to retire there with his wife, Fanny.

The Roundwood; just visible to the right of the house is the top of the workshop and office, shown above.

Lord Nelson used The Roundwood to put up his wife and his ageing father. He never stayed there

with his wife, preferring the company of Emma, Lady Hamilton. Lady Nelson was expected to

take part in big social events in Ipswich every time her husband secured a great victory. But her

husband was never there; it was common knowledge that he favoured his mistress.

After the success of the Battle of the Nile in 1798, Nelson, then a Rear Admiral, was made an

Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Ipswich in his absence, and in 1800 Nelson was made High

Sheriff of Ipswich. After his victory, Nelson arrived back in England at Great Yarmouth. Letters

between Nelson and his wife show that he was expecting to stay at The Roundwood – while she

was busy preparing accommodation for him in London. As he made his way from Yarmouth with

Sir William and Lady Hamilton, he passed through the town and stopped nearly an hour at the

house, and seemed much pleased with the improvements Lady Nelson had made there in his

absence. However, in 1801 Lord and Lady Nelson finally went their separate ways and the house

was sold for £3,300.

Moving forward to the 20th century, one small aspect of the Titchmarsh & Goodwin story, is that

the famous Ipswich cabinet-making firm started out in premises at The Roundwood before the

move to their current home below Trinity Lodge in Back Hamlet.

Gordon Goodwin and his brother-in-law, Frederick Titchmarsh, decided to form a partnership in

May 1920. Frederick provided the financial backing and Gordon the ideas necessary in the

making of reproduction furniture. They took over the workshops of Lomax and Childs, who had

been joiners operating from ‘Roundwood’ on Rushmere Road. The house was a moderately

impressive building but the workshops were buildings at the back. Roundwood, having once

briefly been the home of Admiral Lord Nelson, the address had a fitting ambience for the new

company whose aim was to attract the upper end of the market. Soon the business was building

up and there was need for more space. Plans were drawn up to enlarge the workshops but no

action was taken, then in March 1924, Alfred Gayford’s builders yard in Back Hamlet was put up

for sale. The firm became very successful in its new home and continues to operate from Back

Hamlet today. [Information and images from the recent book about the firm by Heather Ling*.]

‘The Roundwood', this modest country residence with noble (but somewhat tenuous?)

connections, was demolished in 1967; it was situated close to the present Roundwood Road on

the site of today’s St John's School appropriately in the tiny 'Victory Road’, where a plaque

commemorates it. The school Houses are named: Nelson, Trafalgar, Victory and Roundwood.

It's yet another small piece in the jigsaw of Ipswich history.

See also:

From mighty oaks . . . came Gordon Goodwin’s dream by Heather Ling; Newsletter May 2020 (Issue 220).

*Stipple, snuff and no sharp edges: memories of the Ipswich cabinet trade, 1900-2000 2023 book (275

pages) by Heather Ling & friends. Reviewed in the Newsletter July 2023 (Issue 234). Heather has copies

of her excellent book still available; email: heatherlingstaff@yahoo.co.uk

A sad end to a uniquely historical pub

After passing my driving test in 1971, and buying my first car, a 1965 Ford Anglia, it was time to

spread my wings and discover more of our fine county.

Sometimes our route would take us eastwards along the old A12 through Kesgrave and

Martlesham – areas which were not really accessible growing up ‘Over Stoke’ as we did not have

a family car. By the side of the A12 at Martlesham was the Black Tiles. It always looked an

interesting public house, like a large professional’s house, different in style and blending in with

the development around it.

The building was opened in 1936 as an afternoon tea café for a Miss Jermyn. With Martlesham

Airfield being nearby it was regularly patronised by service personnel, giving them a taste of

normality away from the horrors of war.

In 1956 it became licensed for dining and was finally converted into a pub in 1970. The

configuration of the building was very different and always suggested its radically different

origins. To me, in some areas it felt as though you could be sipping tea in a tea planter’s house.

As a pub, it was run for many years by Deben Inns.

For us, in recent years, the Black Tiles became a ‘go to’ place for very good dining. After the

pandemic it became a venue during the autumn and winter months for meetings of the East

Anglian Practical Classics Car Club, as our previous venue at Copdock was suddenly

appropriated by the Home Office. The management were happy for us to use their coffee bar area

for meetings and always provided excellent service.

However, the legacy of Covid has dealt it a mortal blow with the restrictions imposed by the

Government at the time of the pandemic leading ultimately to financial difficulties. I am sad that

it has closed but hope that it will remain in the world of hospitality as it has an interesting

back-story.

Graham Day

Eastern Chronology, 1922

I’m always pleased to receive old books on behalf of the Society and this March’s offering was no exception. The 1922 edition of The Eastern Chronology, a book of dates (mainly focused on Ipswich) and printed by Boswells, Foxhall Road. A thin volume of just 80 pages, with a published price of 6d (six old pennies or two-and-a-half new pence in post-1971 decimal coins).

That said, there are pages and pages of adverts, fascinating (and by today’s standards eye-opening) but presumably not what you paid for in a book of dates. Additionally, there are some dates with which I disagree, for example Chronology suggests that Robert Ransome came to Ipswich in 1785: ‘Orwell Works established’. Others, including those publishing on behalf of Ransome’s, use 1789 for the setting up of the business in St Margarets Ditches. Ransome’s didn’t move to Orwell Quay until 1837 when the construction of the Wet Dock was proposed.

Edward Caley’s carefully drawn panorama of the riverside (1837) clearly shows ‘Orwell Iron Works’ painted on an end wall of a former maltings building.

An interesting date from about this time is 1796 and the note that The Friend’s Meeting House in

Bank Street (today the lower part of Foundation Street with St Mary-at-Quay Church in it) was

built. We know that this Meeting House had its own graveyard, a contribution to the 1,000 plus

graves on the vacant site between St Peter and St Mary-at-Quay. This is one of the reasons why

this vacant site hasn’t been developed since E.R. & F. Turner moved to Foxhall Road in 1922. It

was also the site of Wolsey’s St Mary’s College and, before that, the very heart of Saxon Ipswich.

Amongst the interesting historical facts from the advertisers: who knew Mannings, on the

Cornhill, was established in 1737 and in 1922 were trading as the Wine & Spirits Vaults? They

sold merchandise of the finest quality with the opportunity for a snack (always on hand) with

your refreshment: plates of meat and sausage rolls. There were, back then, separate entrances to

the Gentlemen’s Smoking Room and to the Settling Room, and a third at the rear of the Bar.

Most of the builders advertising offered an associated but separate service to the public, Barker

& Son were Builders & Wheelwrights, Keer & Son were Decorators, Paperhangers, Glaziers and

Plumbers and Bailey & Son were Painters and Upholsterers. Edward S. Singleton were

Undertakers but also offered ‘Shillbeers [hearses], Funeral Broughams, Waggonettes and

Brakes’.

This was the 13th edition of Chronology, published intermittently from 1877 with the excuse that

the First World War had prevented publication since 1909. Given that the vast majority of the

content is historical, changes in dates between volumes must have been minimal. Chronology is

now one of 100 books and pamphlets about Ipswich in Pykenham’s Gatehouse; if you are

undertaking research and would like a look, please email the Society’s Hon. Secretary.

John Norman

Ipswich Minster

The Church of England in Suffolk announced in May that the church of St Mary-le-Tower in

Ipswich town centre will be redesignated by the bishop as a Minster (a rarely granted honorific

title), coinciding with the 825th anniversary of Ipswich being granted its Royal Charter by King

John. The meeting of the great and the good in 1200 took place in the churchyard of

St Mary-le-Tower.

John Norman 1947-2024:

tributes from Society members and others

My condolences to his family, a huge loss to society, not just The Ipswich Society. Keith Baker

I was very sorry to hear the sad news of John. The way he dealt with his illness was inspirational.

I can only reiterate what I wrote in my email to you last September. He did so much for Ipswich

and the Ipswich Society and had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the town. He will be greatly

missed. My thoughts are with his family and those who worked with him and knew him well.

Elisabeth Burman

Thanks for sharing this information, Tony. A very, very sad day. John was very special and a

passionate giver to our town. Assis Carreiro MBE

On behalf of the Cobbold Family History Trust please accept my condolences on the loss of John

Norman. The Trustees and I really appreciated John’s efforts as Chairman. The Cobbold Family

History Trust has always been proud to have strong links with Ipswich and the Ipswich Society.

Please pass on the sympathy and condolences of the Trustees and from me to John’s family.

Katherine Dunstan, Keeper

I am writing with condolences from the Felixstowe Society on hearing of the death of John. I

know how passionate he was about Ipswich which really came across when he spoke about the

Town and its history. Jan Garfield (Mrs), Chairman, Felixstowe Society

This is desperately sad news. Few gave more to the town than John. He was an amazing man and

I was lucky enough to go on a town tour with him. I will always remember it. His knowledge and

enthusiasm were unrivalled. He will be greatly missed. Many condolences, Peter Gray

How very sad; he did a wonderful job looking after the interests of the Ipswich Society, we owe

him greatly. Pippa Marson

As a relatively new member – and still working – I haven't had the opportunity to become

involved in the Society's events as much as I'd like, and only met John once, briefly, when he

dropped in to St Peter's while I was volunteering last summer. He looked unwell then, and

though his visit was short it was very cordial and his effort to come down and show support was

much appreciated. I am only now beginning to appreciate the true extent of his contribution and

what his loss will mean to the town and this Society, but I can certainly say that such a man has

been, and shall continue to be, an inspiration for all those that love our town and our history.

Darryl Milton

I write on behalf of all of us at Suffolk Building Society to express our deep sadness at learning

of John’s passing. Please would you offer our sincere condolences to everyone at The Ipswich

Society, as well as to John’s wife, Christine, and family. John’s tireless dedication to The Ipswich

Society over the past forty years, has been an inspiration. We at Suffolk Building Society are

indebted to John for the wealth of knowledge he has imparted on the history of the town. His

commitment to Ipswich’s involvement in Heritage Open Days has been particularly appreciated,

with this annual event proving so popular with our staff and members. The Suffolk Medal

awarded to John this year for his outstanding contribution to Ipswich’s people and heritage was

richly deserved. I understand John was still cycling last month to raise funds for Rotary Club

charities, which sums up his generosity, dedication to others, and indomitable spirit. He will be

missed by so many individuals and groups. Once again, please accept our deepest condolences.

Richard Norrington, Chief Executive Officer

I think I first met John long ago when I worked at the Ancient House and I know he did an

enormous amount for the Society. He was so knowledgeable and so enthusiastic. Please let his

family know of my appreciation. Ann Petherick (continues

I am sorry to hear this. A faithful servant of the society and an outstanding citizen of Ipswich.

May he rest in peace, Canon John Thackray

I was looking through my address book to find your e-mail address when I came across John’s

address. It is always little things like that which hurt the most when you lose someone – they

catch you unawares. I am writing to you to express my sorrow at losing such a valued friend. A

man who I talked to a lot over the years and who was always there for help and advice – and if he

could help, he would. He is such a huge loss to all of us and to the town of Ipswich. I thought the

tribute in the Ipswich Star was lovely and appropriate – as were all the honours he received

recently. That smile and laugh will keep him alive in our memories. Merv Russen

Suffolk Heritage Champion Award winner: John Norman 1947-2024

Awarded by The Suffolk Preservation Society. Nominated by: Mike Cook of The Ipswich Society

‘John Norman made an outstanding contribution to the heritage of Suffolk and Ipswich in

particular as Chair of the Ipswich Society since 2012. He was also a member of the Ipswich

Borough Council’s Conservation and Design Panel (for over 20 years) and a member of the

Ipswich Waterfront Partnership, which helped to guide the transformation from dilapidated docks

to the vibrant waterfront of today.

‘John was also a Trustee and Chairman of the Suffolk Architectural Heritage Trust, which has

recently merged with the Suffolk Building Preservation Trust to form Historic Suffolk. He was

also a trustee of the Ipswich Building Preservation Trust and The Northgate Foundation. He was

an adjudicator of the Civic Trust Awards and RIBA Suffolk, Annual Craftsmanship Awards. He

was a member of the Ipswich Maritime Trust, Ipswich Heritage Forum, Suffolk Family History

Society and Ipswich Transport Society.

‘John also arranged and led walks and talks, and wrote articles about Ipswich’s heritage which

educated and enthused others.’

TO JOHN NORMAN

(much missed)

Travelling through Ipswich is only for the brave,

Suiting those with time to spend, but surely not to save.

Or, at least, that's what I thought, until the other night,

When a lecture by John Norman made me see the light.

Helped by splendid diagrams, he talked the matter through,

And as he preached his sermon, my understanding grew,

Traffic jams and lengthy queues will soon be in the past,

We'll get to where we want to be, easily and fast.

Co-ordinated traffic lights are not all yet on stream,

But when they are, to drive through town will simply be a dream

So let us all be patient, and moderate our driving,

For if we can, then we will find, we're happier when arriving.

Augustus Carp 9.11.15

The Aldeburgh Festival of Music and

the Arts (Festival of Britain 1951)

8-17 June 1951, Complete Programme Book,

Five Shillings. 48 pages.

Our Membership/Minutes Secretary, Sandra Gage, spotted this book – rather a grand ‘programme’ –

in the Oxfam online shop. She also noted the colophon on the final page, giving us a direct Ipswich link. ‘W.S. Cowell Ltd, founded 1818’ appears in the printer’s emblem.

On the first page, it’s nice to see the traditional “His Master’s Voice” graphic with Nipper the dog hearing the voice of his owner through the sound trumpet. At the top of the list of recording artists, ‘Benjamin Britten’ has been pasted over with ‘Benjamin Britten . Peter Pears’. Perhaps the singer – who was also Britten’s partner – was a late

signing to HMV. The staff at W.S. Cowell would have had to correct every copy by hand.

There is also a panel advertisement for Green & Hatfield, Northgate Ipswich: ‘We are always anxious to purchase Antiques, Period Furniture,Silver, China, Glass, Jewellery, etc.’ Many will recall this business at the angled shop frontage at the junction of Northgate Street and St Margarets Plain, on the east corner (once Alexandria Hair Designs, more recently Arkana Coffee).

Festival of Britain 1951

The Festival became a ‘beacon for change’ and ‘a tonic to the nation’ and while it was largely based on

the South Bank in London, Aldeburgh was one of the provincial towns to benefit from FoB funding.

The Aldeburgh Festival was founded by Britten, Pears and producer-director Eric Crozier in 1948. The first festival was held from 5-13 June, 1948 and used the Aldeburgh Jubilee Hall, a few doors away from Britten's house in Crabbe Street, as its main venue, with performances in other venues such as Aldeburgh Church.

Full page photographs (Aldeburgh lifeboat on the slip near the Jubilee Hall, fisherman on the shingle

beach), operatic libretti, an essay by Imogen Holston madrigals, plus copious notes on the

compositions and a lot more complete this lavish book at the very Aldeburgh price of five bob – which could buy you quite a lot in 1951: pie, mash and a portion of eels. So I’m told, as I was born in 1951.

Thorpeness photograph (below)

Far right: Britten (in bow of boat), third from left: Peter

Pears, out on Thorpeness Meare c.1950.

A motorised charabanc outside The Three Cups public house.

The Three Cups Inn and The Spotted Cow

I thought you might like this photograph for the Ipswich Society photo archive. It has just been

sent to me by a distant cousin in New Zealand. A couple of relatives on my maternal side are in

the photograph. I have no idea what the event was. My grandmother, born in Earl Soham in 1891, was the

youngest child of Samuel Cook and Hannah Meadows. Samuel was, at the time of her birth, a gardener and

groom. By 1901, he and his family had moved to Ipswich and were living in Castle Cottages which I believe were in, or very near, Windsor Road and Samuel had become a dairyman. I can only assume that the dairy

was at 54 Surbiton Road because, shortly afterwards, the whole family moved there.

My grandmother never spoke about her early childhood in Earl Soham. All her memories were of growing up in

Ipswich. Most of the children moved away, some becoming nurses, my grandmother becoming a teacher, but the oldest girl, Deborah, stayed at home, generallyhelping her parents and working in the dairy. Walter

stayed as well. He was responsible for the delivery of milk, using a pony-drawn milk float. Pony? Yes, I know his beloved Jenny was quite a small pony as, much to my mother’s horror, Uncle Walter gave me two of her hooves! He was thrilled to find out that I was learning to ride and decided that I should receive this very special heirloom. I was, I suppose, about 8 or 9 but I realised just how important the moment was to him and I can 54 Surbiton Road (the house still stands); note the projecting sign above the bay window.remember feeling very, very honoured. I still

have them.

A horse-drawn charabanc outside The Spotted Cow public house.

Samuel died in 1931 at 54 Surbiton Road. I am not sure what happened to the dairy but, by 1939,

both Deborah and Walter were living elsewhere and had other occupations.

Samuel was a Baptist and I have a boxful of religious Sunday School prizes given to his children.

I don’t think any of them regularly attended church once they became adults. I wonder whether

the photograph features a church outing, but perhaps not as I don’t think they would have met

outside the pub. However, I have just received a photograph of another outing, this one leaving

from the Spotted Cow. Apparently Samuel is in charge of the barrel and Walter, wearing the

trilby, is his wingman. Your guess is as good as mine!

Jo Edwards

[Editor’s note: The Three Cups Inn, 78 Bramford Road (corner with Wellington Road) closed

25th March 1962. There is a reference to The Three Cups in 1757 in The Ipswich Journal. The

Spotted Cow was just up the road at 86 Bramford Road; it closed in 1999. Originally a farm

house, it was converted to a beer house in the early 1860s. Information from Suffolk CAMRA.]

Final expanded edition – Band of brothers: directory of

bargemen associated with the port of Ipswich

After the original booklet of 52 pages by Barry Girling, followed by subsequent revisions, now the final 156-page edition is available. Barry & Elaine Girling say that they will be publishing no further titles.

The book will be priced at £15 but copies have yet to reach local bookshops. However, via telephone: 01473 328621 or email: redroundabout92@gmail.com they will be available immediately to Ipswich Society members at £10 (plus

p&p: £3, if appropriate).

Neil Salmon (8.1.1933 - 3.5.2024)

In early May, we heard the sad news that Neil had died at the age of 91 in Ipswich Hospital after a short illness. Those Society members of long standing will know that Neil contributed much to Ipswich, his adopted home town, and to The Ipswich Society – not least as Newsletter Editor for ninety-one issues, over his twenty-three years’ tenure. As a member of the Society’s Executive Committee, Neil instigated our popular Blue Plaques scheme – inspired, in part, by the English Heritage project in London which highlights notable people on the buildings with which they are associated. Our Ipswich scheme continues to grow. Photo by Tony Marsden

He represented The Society on the Ipswich Heritage Forum, a coming-

together of cultural and heritage/historical groups in the town, and he shared the information with

the committee and, where appropriate, included it in the Newsletter.

He and his late wife, Joyce (who died aged 91 last year), arranged Society trips abroad, too.

Yet, there was so much more to Neil. English teacher at Northgate High School for 40 years*

(see Bob Allen’s memories below); Secretary and Chair of Ipswich Film Society for 40 years;

member/Vice-Chair of Ipswich Film Theatre Advisory Committee for its 32-year existence; film

reviewer for Ipswich Arts Association’s Images magazine for 20 years; member of the Ipswich

Chamber Music Society since 1965 and author of its programme notes; member of Ipswich

Labour Party since the 1960s and supporter of Ipswich Town FC – he would have been delighted

that the club achieved promotion to the Premiership the day after his death. A dedicated family

man, he spent the last few years of his life in an excellent Ipswich nursing home with Joyce.

(*’He is revered by so many past pupils from a long time ago which says so much!’– Graham

Smith, Society Trustee)

‘… and you have [lost] John Norman, too, whom Dad much admired: a sad moment in the

Society's history.’ – Frank Salmon, Neil’s son.

Neil Salmon – a few memories of the Northgate English Department

I first met Neil when I was appointed to teach English at Northgate Grammar School for Boys in

the summer of 1969. Neil was the deputy to the Head of Department, Peter Hewett, and had been

at Northgate for about sixteen years. He had graduated with a degree in English Literature from

Downing College, Cambridge, where his Director of Studies was F.R. Leavis, the celebrated

academic. Neil valued tremendously his experience of Leavis’ teaching and described sitting with

other undergraduates while Leavis questioned and debated with them. He particularly valued the

open and thoughtful approach Leavis took, allowing each student to express their own ideas

while offering probing questions to refine and develop understanding. This was very much Neil’s

own approach to teaching. His quiet and serious approach to literature enabled many students to

enjoy studying, and to go on in later life to contribute significantly to the arts. There was always

a sense of the importance of literature and the moral qualities which it could bring to an

understanding of the complexities of life. He was also a great enthusiast for personal writing –

opportunities for students to write about their own experiences with insight and perspective, and

he supervised the various publications undertaken by the school. In those days, we had many

freedoms which are rarely found today, including team teaching which meant that we could work

alongside each other in the classroom, working with several classes together. Neil’s contribution

to the life of the school also included a film club which brought the experience of fine cinema. I

remember watching ‘The Seventh Seal’ among many other classic films. The English

Department at Northgate was noted for its engagement in cutting-edge developments in English

teaching nationally. Neil Salmon was a distinguished and wonderful colleague. I was truly

fortunate to begin my teaching career in his company. Bob Allen, Society Vice-President

Loo Of The Year

Photograph:Nick Jacob Associates

‘I am thrilled to share some exciting news that has added an extra sparkle to the holiday

celebrations. Nick Jacob Associates has been awarded the prestigious Platinum honour in the

2023 Loo of the Year Awards for their work on St. Stephen's Church in Ipswich. While it may

seem unusual for an architectural firm to be recognised for washroom design, their commitment

to elevating every space, no matter how humble, has garnered national acclaim. This award is a

testament to the NJA team's dedication to excellence and the successful transformation of a

historic Grade II listed church into a creative community hub.’

[Email which John Norman sent to the Editor on 15.12.2023, which we couldn’t fit in sooner.]

Letters to the Editor

Ipswich as others see us from David Vincent

Members will probably know I am involved in the St Clement’s Arts Centre project, so hardly a

couple of days go by without me being in the town centre.

Charlotte's letter in the previous issue, touched on the issue that newcomers often appreciate

Ipswich more than those who consider themselves natives.

Ipswich, steeped in history, the first Anglo Saxon town and probably the birthplace of the English

language (according to Charlie Haylock). Why not say it more often?

We still have many historic churches and buildings, a rich range of culture, music and theatre,

arts and entertainment and people come to town for it, not just for the football. Football helps

with the national profile though and fans come from as far as Norway and Northern Ireland.

I often spot visitors looking at their phones for directions, and speak to them. The other day I

gave a brief history of St Clement’s to one couple outside it (Londoners, staying in Woodbridge).

Another day visitors from Cambridge were disappointed to find the Ipswich Museum was closed,

but I was able to direct them to Christchurch Mansion instead.

Recently I have made new friends who have moved here from London, and bought a home after

first renting here and they are full of praise for their new home and the friendly community they

have found. Perhaps Ipswich natives should be more positive?.

… and … Broomhill Pool - Lido restoration from David Vincent

At long last, as a nearby resident and former pool user, I have confidence that the pool restoration

will go ahead.

The evidence is there in plain sight. The buildings may still be boarded up but SCC Highways

contractors have already been out painting yellow lines along Sherrington Road. The lines

haven't been repainted since the pool closed in 2002, and seem to have been extended to prevent

swimmers parking their cars.

If only potholes were treated so swiftly. There is one in Dale Hall Lane that has been there for

months that always catches me out at night.

Latest news from Ipswich Tourist Guides

If you’re new to Ipswich or hosting visitors from further afield why not join one of our regular

guided walks? These start at the Ipswich Institute every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon and

will continue until the end of September. A range of topics will be explored from theatre, myth

& mystery, Thomas Gainsborough, sacred spaces, trade and industry to Saxons, Vikings,

Normans! Bookings can be made at the Institute, either in person or using the Guides section

hosted on the Institute’s website https://ipswichinstitute.org.uk/ipswichtourist/

The cost is just £5 per person and all are welcome. Guides are also available for group walks at

other times by arrangement. See our website http://ipswichtourguides.onesuffolk.net/ for details.

Introducing Graham Lambert

I am delighted to be invited to join the Ipswich Society Executive Committee. I am a recently retired Architect

having spent over 40 years in practice. In 1988, I formed with others, a small firm based at Fox’s Marina at Wherstead. KLH Architects has grown from a staff of three to over thirty, and in addition to a varied client base, KLH continues to provide valuable opportunities for youngsters to join the profession. Prior to my retirement I primarily worked in healthcare design including the hospitals at Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds.

During my time in practice, I have served in a number of construction related bodies and organisations, and I have been a member of the Ipswich Conservation and Design Panel for over 25 years.

I am a proud to be from Ipswich. I was educated at Morland Road Primary and Northgate Grammar School, and have lived in Ipswich all my life. I am determined to use my experience and local knowledge to contribute as much as I can to the Society, which continues to support Ipswich as a great place to live.

Congratulations to The Ipswich Art Society, 150 years old this year. St Clement Church hosted the IAS Annual Open Exhibitionfrom 4 May to 15 June. A large, varied show of original paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, sculpture and textiles by members and friends of the society was exhibited on its new display screens. TheSociety benefited from lottery funding for this anniversary. This coincided with an IASexhibition ‘Art at the heart of Ipswich’ at

The Hold’s gallery which explored how social, economic, and political changes over the last century-and-a-half have been reflected in the work of local artists. This fascinating exhibition showcased a diverse range of artwork and ephemera from society members, the Ipswich Borough Art Collection, and Suffolk Archives. There was also a programme of lectures on art.

The Ipswich Society

Registered Charity no. 263322

www.ipswichsociety.org.uk | https://www.facebook.com/ipswichsociety | https://www.instagram.com/theipswichsociety

This Newsletter is the quarterly journal of Ipswich’s civic amenity society established in 1960. Views expressed in

the Newsletter are not necessarily those of the Society. We make every effort to comply with copyright and GDPR

law in our publications; please contact the Hon. Secretary if you have concerns about any content.

Diary dates

Tuesday July 9: members’ outing to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, Norfolk – Coach departs

Crown Street 8.30am Telephone Chris & Lois Terry: 01473 727256

Sunday August 25: Brass in the Park, we are sponsoring the Stowmarket Concert Band – 2.30pm

in the Christchurch Park Arboretum

Tuesday September 17: members’ outing to Voewood House, Norfolk – Coach departs Crown

Street, 8am (see outings insert).

Winter Illustrated Talks at Museum Street Methodist Church (entrance in Blackhorse Lane); all

talks start at 7.30pm and free tea, coffee and biscuits are provided afterwards. All are welcome.

Wednesday September 18: Nick Wilson on ‘Brick bats and truncheons: crime, protest, and the

policing of nineteenth century Ipswich’.

Wednesday October 16: John Warren on ‘The River Gipping Navigation’.

Wednesday November 20: The Society’s Annual Awards Evening, 7.30pm at The Hold.

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

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

1 March; 2 April;

1 June; 17 July;

1 September; 9 October.

Ipswich Wet Dock: Common Quay from the Island site, 23 February, 2024 (before new pontoons were installed).

The Custom House and its reflection, framed by the waterside buildings and the hulls of leisure craft.

Issue 238 July 2024