Maritime Ipswich

Quite a striking theme for this blog post wouldn’t you say. But it’s true! Back in 1987 Ipswich could have had a Transport and Technology Museum built right in the heart of the waterfront. On the 14th April 1987 plans were unveiled for the … [Read more...] about One from the Archive – When Ipswich could have had a Dockland Museum for £5 million pounds!

For many, the River Orwell looks unchanged. Its course, channels and the nature that inhabit the river look unchanged. Except of course, for the concrete Orwell Bridge running across the river. But since the early nineteenth century the Orwell has … [Read more...] about Samuel Armstrong: ‘Workhorse of the Orwell’

Over the last 100 years alone the landscape of Maritime Ipswich has changed dramatically. From the extension of the Port of Ipswich, to the opening and closer of the Ipswich power station, building of the Orwell Bridge, 1982 Maritime Ipswich … [Read more...] about Maritime Memoir Project Launched

A large yellow crane has recently appeared on the Island Site in Ipswich. Which is not the most fascinating news you have heard from us. But if you have noticed it or heard it this week, you may wonder what it is doing. Well it is a piling crane … [Read more...] about The Story of the New Cut

Historic Vessels often have more stories and relationships during their long lives than many people will. For the lucky few that own, skipper and sail vessels such as these. They make and leave their own stories with the vessels. By the very nature … [Read more...] about Hirta: Maritime Memories from the 50s

In the autumn of 2020, our Window Wizards will be installing our 20th Window Museum display which focuses on the development of Ipswich Wet Dock. Whilst in lockdown our volunteers have been adding the final touches and doing some more research. In … [Read more...] about The Story of John Wodderspoon and the Wet Dock

This month 175 years ago the oldest surviving building on the Ipswich Waterfront, one of the most iconic and inspiring pieces of Victorian architecture in the town was completed. The Old Customs House as it is known today has been at the centre of … [Read more...] about 175 years of the Old Customs House

We thought we would share with you a story that one of our Trustees, Bob Fox recalled of VE Day at Fox’s Halifax Yacht Works when he was a boy. The boatyard was located along Wherstead Road in Ipswich, today it is occupied by Orwell’s … [Read more...] about VE Day at Fox’s – A Maritime Memoir

With lockdown restrictions in England slowly being lifted, we can celebrate by being afloat again. Every year the Ipswich Maritime Trust charters barge trips down the River Orwell on the Sailing Barge Victor. We have set out some COVID secure … [Read more...] about Sail with us again on the Victor

This weekend over 20 years ago, Ipswich held one of the largest Maritime Festivals it or the East Coast has ever seen. Sail Ipswich ‘97 saw over 30,000 visitors and welcomed over 300 vessels to the Wet Dock. In 1998 the organiser Mark Grimwade who … [Read more...] about One from the Archive – Sail Ipswich ’97