Industrial innovation

The last 400 years have seen the pace of change and innovation increase dramatically. The settlement has expanded to take in many villages which used to surround it (eg Rushmere St Andrew, Belstead, Whitton, Bixley etc). Unlike nearby Colchester, Ipswich did not suffer military attack during the civil war, although it was a hotbed of Puritanism. In 1699-1700 a Presbyterian meeting house was built in Friars Street, the building remains today largely unchanged from the original timber structure, now used by the Unitarian movement.

By 1674 when John Ogilby's map captures the town plan, the town centre streets were laid out much as today. Many of the streets reflecting the by ways from the earliest town. Just outside the town boundary was St George's Lane (now Street) the 17th Century timber framed Globe Inn, the building was rebuilt from the original timbers in 1986 when this photo was taken. Joseph Pennington's map published in 1778 shows the town ramparts and the river still defining the town, with roads running around the outside of the boundary eg Clay Lane (now Crown Street), the principal roads leading into town had houses along them but essentially the town remained as before. On the edge of the old town Robert Ransome established a foundry in St Margaret's Ditches in 1789, the business grew into a major employer in the town. The nineteenth Century saw the development of the wet dock to improve trading facilities, this was ready for use in 1842. Nearby the railway line from London was extended to Ipswich and carrying passengers by 1846. Heavy industry and agriculture made use of the improved transport infrastructure and the working population grew requiring the expansion of housing into the suburbs. New roads and local transport opened up the nearby settlements, leading to the town as it is today.

The view of the Cliff Quay generating station during the demolition of the chimneys in 1994. A large crowd gathered on the Wherstead side of the river Orwell to watch the demolition and take photos such as this one. The power station was still incomplete when it was transfered to the CEGB back in 1948.

Shops in the town are constantly changing ownership and contents, but here are a few of the older shops which were once part of the fabric of the town.

Grimwades in 2000 - on the western side of Cornhill this clothing business had been in the town since 1844, and on this site since 1879 until 1995 when the business closed. Grimwades described itself as a tailors, outfitters, hosiers and hatters in 1943 and 1956 directories, and it provided school uniforms for generations of kids in Ipswich. The building shown in the photo is the store built in 1904.

Albert List 1984- at the junction of Old Foundry Road and Carr Street, photo taken July 1984 as the shop closed down. Kelly's directory in 1943 described Albert List Ltd as a domestic machinery warehouse, and in 1956 as domestic machinery dealers and baby carriage factors, before the first world war List's sold bicycles and prams. One of the memories I have been sent of Lists is from Gloria .... "there were all kinds of lovely new shiny bikes to look at, some of them were placed up against the walls ..up high so that customers could see them. The shop always had a distinctive odour, a sort of new rubber and pleasant oil mix that I can still "smell" if I shut my eyes and picture how it was . Walking into the store was always cool and shady even on the sunniest days, and the floors must have been wooden and oiled because I remember how it sounded to walk on them ..."

Price's boot makers (later boot dealer) shop - on Tacket Street and Lower Brook Street corner, closed it's doors in 1984 after trading for 138 years. This photo was taken in 2000 showing the new use of the shop although the upper frontage remains unchanged.

Stamp shop 1985- Coytes Gardens, closed in 1985 and is now a sandwich bar. The photo also shows the survival of an old road surface. The road name comes from the fact that the road was built in the early 19th Century through the garden of Dr William Beeston Coyte's botanical garden.

Martin & Newby 2000- Fore Street a long standing iron mongery business (established 1873) situated between the town centre and the dockside. Providing everything from tools, electrical and household goods to poultry and bee keeping appliances according to its adverts from 50 years ago. The business sold off in 2004 and most of the buildings knocked down in 2005.

Jew's cemetery - hidden away on Salthouse Street this small cemetery existed for the town's small Jewish population.