|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piglet at Baylham Rare Breeds
|
|
|
|
| Ipswich |
|
Getting to Ipswich
Coming by road, the town sits on the A12 from London (approx
60 miles) and the A14 from the Midlands and the North. The
town is well-served by railway with a regular service connecting
to London's Liverpool Street (just an hour's journey). From
the north and Midlands the line connects to Peterborough.
The railway also links to the nearby ports of Felixstowe (mainly
container) and Harwich (passenger).
 |
| Shopping in Ipswich town centre |
Stena Line operates a twice daily high speed service from
Harwich (just 32 miles from Ipswich) to the Hook of Holland.
Are services to Harwich, from Cuxhaven, and Esbjerg are operated
by DFDS Seaways.
National Express operates a regular bus service from Ipswich.
Ipswich no longer has an airport of it's own, the closest
are: Standsted 39 miles; Norwich 42 miles; Luton 65 miles;
Heathrow 79 miles; Gatwick 84 miles.
|
| A Brief History |
 |
| Traditional England still survives
in the town centre |
Ipswich can rightfully claim to be the
"oldest recorded town in England".
"Gippeswick" was a Stone Age, Iron Age, Roman,
and Anglo-Saxon settlement, it made most of its wealth
trading local cloth with it's neighbours on the continent.
Gippeswick (or Ipswich as it later became), was not densely
populated until the Romans left. Saxon settlers made use of
it's connection with the North Sea, and for a time the Kingdom
of East Anglia centred around Ipswich. It is claimed that Ipswich
was the first Anglo-Saxon town. Anglo Saxon connections abound,
most significantly at nearby Sutton Hoo.
Looking over the docks, eastwards, down the Orwell from
Ipswich |
In the Middle Ages the area became a popular pilgrimage destination.
One of Henry VIII's closest allies, Thomas Cardinal Wolsey was
born in Ipswich around 1475. He was to become one of the town's
most famous sons. In 1528 he founded a college which is now
known as Ipswich School. In 1555, the Ipswich Martyrs were burnt
at the stake for their Protestant beliefs.
 |
| Cornhill, centre of Ipswich since
Saxon times |
Lord and
Lady Nelson lived in the town in the early 1800's and Nelson
was at one time High Steward of the town. Ipswich has played
host to those from the arts, painters John Constable and Thomas
Gainsborough who both lived and worked here. Author Charles
Dickens visited in 1835. The Tavern where he stayed is today
known as the Great White Horse Hotel, .Dickens' featured it
in his novel The Pickwick Papers.
Nowadays Ipswich port continues
to flourish with several million tonnes of cargo coming through
it each year. Derelict buildings around parts of the docks are
being redeveloped to offer new business and residential properties.
Ipswich has a highly successful football team, Ipswich Town,
who play at Portman Road. In the past they have won the FA Cup
in 1978 and the UEFA cup in 1981. Ipswich is also home to Ipswich
Witches who are one of the most successful speedway teams in
England. They have been based at Foxhall Stadium on the outskirts
of the town for the past 50 years.
|
| Celebrity Connections |
|
As well as Thomas Wolsey and Lord Nelson, Ipswich has a few
other celebrity connections.
London born cartoonist Carl Giles lived and worked in Ipswich.
He is best remembered for his cartoons in the Daily Express.
A statue of his most famous character "Grandma" now stands
at the junction of Princes Street and Queens Street looking
up at Giles' former studio.
Brian Cant, children's tv presenter was born in Ipswich. Brian
provided all the narration and sang all the songs in Trumpton,
Chigley, and Camberwick Green. Also to his credit are Playschool,
Playaway and Dappledown Farm. He worked at an art store in
Ipswich and was a keen follower of local amateur dramatics
(as a member of the audience). When he moved to London he
got his thespian wings and the rest is history.
1980's pop idol Nik Kershaw, while being born in Bristol,
spent his childhood in Ipswich. He attended Northgate Grammar
School, performed with the Co-op Drama Group and worked in
the local Department of Employment.
|
Looking up river to the changing face of Ipswich,
new developments in the old dock area. |
|
| For more on Ipswich and life in the town visit
www.ipswich24.co.uk |
| |
| |
|
|
|
