Ipswich: A Saxon Port in East Anglia

Overview

Ipswich is a Port town located on the river Orwell in the County of Suffolk. The town dates from the Anglo Saxon Period and was known as Gippeswic. It is the county town of Suffolk.

History

Around 700 CE, Frisian potters from the Netherlands set up large scale potteries, and exported their wares across the country. Between 869-920 CE Ipswich became part of the Viking Danelaw. After 1066, The Normans ruled Ipswich from Bigod Castle, but it was dismantled by Henry II in 1176. Edward III sailed his fleet from Orwell Haven for Crecy in 1346. Ipswich had became a wealthy port by the Tudor period. In 1606, Ipswich sent three ships to colonise Virginia in the New World. The railway arrived in 1846.

Things to Do and Places to See in Ipswich

1. Ipswich Museum

Ipswich Museum

• The Ipswich Hoards.
  1. First Ipswich Hoard:
     • 150 Anglo Saxon coins found in 1863.
     • The Hoard is now all dispersed and lost.
  2. Second Ipswich Hoard:
     • 6 Iron Age Gold Torcs
     • Copies are in the Ipswich Museum and the originals are in Room 50 of the British Museum.
• The Wickham Market Hoard.
  • Found in 2008, the Hoard consists of 840 Iron Age Gold Staters dating between 40 BCED to 15 CE.
  • The Hoard is now in the Ipswich Museum.

Suffolk Hoards in the British Museum

• Hoxne Hoard
  • 14,865 gold, silver and bronze roman coins, and almost 200 items of gold jewellery and silver tableware of which 98 silver spoons and ladles, many of which are gilded.
  • The latest coin dates from 408 CE, the earliest from 367 CE.
  • The Hoard is located in the British Museum in London.
• Mildenhall Treasure
  • The Hoard is in the British Museum and a copy is in the Mildenhall Museum.
• Eye Hoard: Clint Farm.
  • 1781 CE. The largest number of Roman gold coins ever found in Britain, consisting of a Roman lead box containing 600 Roman gold coins dating from 364-423 CE.
  • The Hoard is now all dispersed and untraceable.

2. Ipswich Art Gallery

Description: Located next door to the Ipswich Museum. Limited opening hours.

3. Christchurch Park

Description: Built over the site of Holy Trinity Priory, no buildings remain. There were three Priories, Blackfriars (Dominican), Whitefriars (Carmelite) and Greyfriars (Franciscan).

Ipswich Martyrs monument to the nine Protestants burnt between 1553-1558.

4. Christchurch Mansion

Description: 

5. St. Margaret’s Church

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6. St. Margaret’s Plain

Description: Old Houses

7. Pykenham’s Gateway & Brick Boundary Wall

Description: Northgate Street

8. Ipswich Minster

Description: Previously known as St. Mary-Le-Tower.

9. Dial Lane

Description: One of the town centre’s atmospheric streets with timber framed buildings and St. Lawrence’ Church. The tower holds oldest ring of 5 bells in a Christian church.

10. The Ancient House

Description: Buttermarket

11. Ipswich Town Hall

Description: Located in the Cornhill, a square where the town’s Protestants were martyred in the 16th century. Lloyds Archway

12. Ipswich Portal

Description: Located on the Cornhill, the Portal is a circular structure featuring a live-streaming video connection to other cities worldwide, allowing passers-by to see and interact with other people. Operating hours are between 6:00 AM to 11:00 PM.

Unveiled in October 2025, the Ipswich Portal is positioned in front of the historic Town Hall in Cornhill. As the first-ever UK Portal, it became the 5th sculpture in the global network of identical Portal sculptures. Being all located in the public space, Portals offer a real-time, unfiltered livestream, inviting people of different cultures to meet above borders and differences.

13. Willis Building

Description: 

14. Silent street

Description: Curson Lodge at 45, 45a.

15. Thomas Wolsey Statue

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16. Sailor’s Rest

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17. Wolsey’s Gate

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18. The Old Custom House

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19. Ipswich Waterfront

Description: Iconic Waterfront where cafés, bars and restaurants sit alongside boutiques, galleries and museums. Window museum on quay explores the history of Ipswich’s maritime history.

20. River Trips

Description: Orwell Lady River Trips from Orwell Quay

 

Further Afield

 

21. Regent Theatre

Description: 1500 seat

22. Ipswich School (1399)

Description: 

23. New Wolsey Theatre

Description: 400 seat

24. The Avenue Theatre

Description: Gibbeswyk Hall

25. Ipswich Transport Museum

Description: Old Trolleybus Depot

 

Ipswich Walking Tour (2-3 hrs)

• Your geolocation will appear as a blue dot that moves on the map as you walk.
• You may start anywhere on the map and just follow the blue line to the next point of interest.

 

Travel Tips

• Best time to visit: Spring and autumn for mild weather and fewer tourists.
• Photography hotspots: The Ancient House, Ipswich Waterfront, Christchurch Mansion
• Nearby Attractions: Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

Visitor FAQ

• What is Ipswich famous for?
  • Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, one of King Henry VIII’s closest allies, was born in Ipswich.
  • Ed Sheeran the musician, grew up in Framlingham, 15 miles (24km) from Ipswich.
  • Birth of the Power Lawnmower in 1902.
  • Roman Hoards in the Ipswich Museum: Wickam Market Hoard, Second Ipswich Hoard.
  • In 1800 Sir Horatio Nelson was chosen as High Steward of Ipswich.
• Can I see Roman Ruins in Ipswich?
  • No. An extensive Roman Villa was excavated at Castle Hill, but it is now under housing.
• How far is Sutton Hoo Ship Burial from Ipswich city centre?
  • About 30 minutes by car.
• Are there Guided Tours of Ipswich historical sites?
  • Yes, local guides offer walking tours.
• Is Gippeswic the same as Ipswich?
  • Yes. It’s the Saxon name for Ipswich.
• Which Roman Province was Ipswich located in?
  • Ipswich did not exist during the Roman Empire, but it would have been in Britannia.
• What was the role of Gippeswic (Ipswich) in the Roman Empire?
  • Ipswich did not exist during the Roman Empire. It was founded later by the Saxons in the 7th century.
• Which Roman Roads connected to Ipswich?
  • The Pye Road linked London with Colchester– and Caistor St Edmund. It passed near the present location of Ipswich.

Quick Facts

• Modern Location: Ipswich, England
• Category: Historic city centre, tourist destination
• Activities: Walking tours, Sightseeing, Photography
• Nearby Roman Site: Colchester
• Nearest Roman road: Pye Road
• Roman Province: Britannia

 

Nearby Attractions

1. Aldeburgh

2. Dunwich

• Now lost to the Sea, but it was a huge Port during the Medieval Period.
• Many Roman roads radiated out from Dunwich.

3. Sutton Hoo Ship Burial

• Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, 10 miles (16km) northeast of Ipswich, was the site of the discovery of an Anglo Saxon Ship Burial known as the Sutton Hoo. The ship was 88 feet (27m) long and dated to 625 CE.
• The Artefacts from the vessel, such as the Helmet, Shield Fittings, Gold Shoulder Clasp, Coins and Belt Buckle are now in the British Museum.

4. Lavenham