A-Z of Ipswich

It is easy to underestimate the county town of Suffolk. On the face of it, Ipswich is an uncomfortable mishmash of twentieth-century buildings butting up against older properties. The new Waterfront area, boasting a recently created university and numerous gleaming apartment buildings, hints at the town's new-found popularity and is a perfect example of ancient and modern sitting more contentedly side by side. Once we scratch beneath the surface, we start to uncover clues that unlock the hidden history of Ipswich through its streets, buildings and their occupants over the centuries, such as the Ancient House and its connection with the witchfinder general, the inspiration Dickens found on his frequent visits to the town, the legacy of French prisoners of war from the Napoleonic Wars, the curiously named Silent Street and its most famous son, Cardinal Wolsey. A Z of Ipswich reveals fascinating facts about some of the town s curious street names, tells of the famous people who inhabited and visited the town, and uncovers the little-known history behind some of Ipswich s well-known places. This fascinating A Z tour of the town s history will appeal to all those with an interest in the county town of Suffolk.