Glimpse history through old images of Ipswich, Suffolk.
Famous for the Ipswich Docks which were a major employer and key part of Britain’s international trading, this Suffolk town has been captured on film many times over the past century.
The Town Before The 1960s
A Big Lift (1920-1929)
Trade on the Ipswich banks started back in the 8th century. 1842 saw the opening of the first wet dock there. In the 1920s, inspection of the 50 ton Lock Gate at the Ipswich Docks required the use of a giant floating crane. L.B. Leverett was there to film it, including the moment a man sinks under the water in an old fashioned diving suit.
Floods In Ipswich (1939)
In 1939 as the snow thawed, Ipswich suffered flooding. This British Pathé film shows vehicles determined to keep moving even though two men push a boat through the water.
Ipswich (1943)
This British Pathé film shows Ipswich before post-war development started.
Cattle dealer Barney Wyatt is introduced, along with the large pocket watch and medal he received for helping the local hospital.
Ipswich In The 1960s
Ipswich Remembered Past and Present (1960s)
James Tansey uploaded to YouTube a photo montage by K Pollard. It shows a variety of local streets in the 1960s, each nicely identifying the year and the location.
Ipswich Subsidence (1960s)
Several different film clips are included in this HuntleyFilmArchives short compilation:
- Country house
- Subsidence in an Ipswich street
- Ipswich Docks
- Sales in Ipswich
- Wildlife Exhibition at Norfolk Wildlife Park
Ipswich in the Sixties (1960s)
TIMEREELTV sells informative and entertaining DVDs about a wide range of locations across the UK.
This clip of the Ipswich DVD lasts roughly one minute. It shows the early days of the Dukes House roundabout, now itself consigned to history.
Several historic properties were demolished to make way for the roundabout, but in 1961 a new movement took hold. Renovation was now the key to dealing with Ipwich’s historic buildings.
Ipswich DVD (1960s)
A minute long clip of the Ipswich DVD sold by Pastfilms.
Lots of people, places and events to spot.
A Drive Around Ipswich (1966)
In 1966 Russell Frost filmed as his friend drove around the town.
Andy Frost slowed the footage for a clearer view and uploaded it to YouTube. If that’s too slow for you, just use the small setting button to play it at double speed.
The film quality isn’t what we are used to today, but remember this is a colour home video at a time when most people didn’t own a colour TV.
Ellenbrook Road
This 8mm cine film opens with a board stating “Ellenbrook Road, southern approach to Belstead Private Housing Estate”.
A young couple accompanied by a middle aged lady look at the nearby fields and then walk through the muddy building site. A few completed houses stand nearby.
Next we see the older lady clambering up an awkwardly angled ladder into a breeze block shell of a house. Inside she does a quick jig as the young couple laughs.
Then there’s a view of the nearby street under construction.
Finally all three jump through the window gap including the older lady in her tight knee length skirt.
It’s clearly a young couple showing a mother round their new house under construction, at the weekend when no workmen are there.
New Housing Estate Ellenbrook Road Ipswich Home Movie (1960s) – Dave Eldergill Cine Film Memories on YouTube
Ipswich Transport Society
Ipswich Transport Society Vehicles (1960s/1970s)
Nick Abbott found this 8mm cine film showing Ipswich Transport Society members moving vehicles around in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Nice clear footage of the people present.
Ipswich in the 1980s
Highway With Harry Secombe (1987)
Remember ‘Highway’ with Harry Secombe? This popular TV show visited a number of the town’s locations in 1987.
Ipswich Docks (1987)
YouTube channel deus ex machina uploaded this 2 hour and 21 minute film showing the docks and dockers at work in 1987.
You can hear banter and laughter between work colleagues and see how the systems worked.
An important visual record of people at work in an often overlooked industry.
The 1990s
Driving through Ipswich (1999)
In 1999 the creator of YouTube channel larry-w filmed his drive through Ipswich.
The 21st Century
Views of Ipswich and its People (2000)
In the year 2000, Alexander Edward walked through the town’s busiest streets.
Using black and white film, he recorded the sights and sounds as hundreds of people went about their business.
Ipswich Odeon (2003)
YouTube channel gaumont kalee uploaded footage of the exterior and interior of the Odeon from a Cinema Theatre Association visit in July 2003.
Ipswich Town Centre (2009)
In the summer of 2009, Raj Kumar walked along the busy town centre streets. Hundreds of people are seen clearly as they walk past or come out of shops.
More Pictures of Old Ipswich
Old Ipswich in Suffolk, England, enjoyed through historic photos, vintage pictures & archive film. Browse history in these fascinating old images of a bygone era on my Pinterest board at:
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/LocalHistoryVideos/ipswich-old-photos-pictures
More about Suffolk
- Old Images of Suffolk, England
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Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of the seaside town of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk, England, UK. - Ipswich History In Old Photos & Films
Glimpse history through old images of Ipswich, Suffolk. Famous for the Ipswich Docks which were a major employer and key part of Britain’s international trading, this Suffolk town has been captured on film many times over the past century. The Town Before The 1960s A Big Lift (1920-1929) Trade on the Ipswich banks started back… Read more: Ipswich History In Old Photos & Films - Suffolk: Local History Resources
Suffolk is in the region called East of England, which is below Northern England and above the South East region.
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