Ipswich street names

Many Ipswich streets commemorate long-forgotten personages and aspects of the town's history. A group of these Ipswich street names commemorate those slavery abolitionists who campaigned to pass the Bill in Parliament 200 years ago abolishing the trade in slaves upon which so much of the British Empire was based.

Abolitionists (slavery): have their own page (Clarkson, Wilberforce, Benezet, Dillwyn, Eliot,  Gibbons, Sharp Streets and Burlington Road).
Adair Road: commemorates Hugh Edward Adair, of the Adair family of Flixton Hall, Bungay. He was MP for Ipswich 1947-1974. See Shafto Road.
Alan Road: named for Alan Brooksby Cobbold, the owner in 1864 of the 238 acre Rose Hill estate. The Rev E C Alston of Dennington then became the owner. On his death it was sold, and Alan, Alston and Rose Hill Roads were then constructed.
Alf Ramsey Way: see Portman's Walk. Home to the hidden ITFC lettering.
Alpe Street: commemorates William Alpe, Borough highway surveyor, 1698.
Alston Road: see Alan Road.
Ancaster Road: commemorates an 18th century family connection of Lord Gwdyr of Stoke Park. An ancestor, Peter Burrell, married Priscilla (Baroness Willoughby d'Eresby) the eldest daughter of the third Duke of Ancaster and Kesteven.
Anglesea Road: commemorates the Marquis of Anglesea who lived in Ipswich in the early 19th century. He fought in the Battle of Waterloo, 1815.
The Avenue: an allusion to the fine avenue of trees shown on Kirby's map of the Christchurch estate 1735, which was a continuation of the avenue which ran from the Mansion to the Park Road gateway, cutting across Great Kingsfield beyond present day Valley Road.
Badshah Avenue: commemorates Kavas Jamas Badshah who retired from the Indian civil service in 1904 and came to live in Ipswich where his family had been established since 1892. He became a town councillor in 1913, was awarded the OBE in 1918 in recognition of his war work in Ipswich and became mayor in 1925.
Bantoft Terrace: commemorates William Bantoft, Town Clerk 1883-1924.
Beatty Road: commemorates David, first Earl Beatty (1871-1936), Admiral of the Fleet, and his distinguished service in the First World War.
Beck Street: commemorates Cave Beck, headmaster of Ipswich Grammar School 1650- 1657. He held a plurality of livings - rector of St Margaret's 1658, St Helen's 1658 and Monk Soham 1674-1706. Noted nationally as the author of "The Universal Character" in which he sought to establish a universal means of language using numerals as linguistic symbols.
Bedford Street: commemorates Thomas Bedford, a "postmaster" - a hirer of horses, coaches and gigs, with premises in 1855 off St Matthew's Street.
Benezet Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Berners Street: Built in the 1830s as an approach to the portico of Anglesea Road Hospital, it commemorates the Berners family of Woolverstone Hall (which was built on his riverside estate by William Berners (1710-1783).
Bishop's Hill: see Wykes Bishop Street. Home of brickwork street lettering.
Bolton Lane: Perhaps a misnomer as Thingstead Lane (leading northwards from the Thingstead - ancient name for a meeting place, now St Margaret's Green) was labelled in the Pennington map of Ipswich in 1777 as Bolron Lane, even though the hamlet of Bolton was on the other side of Christchurch Park. Home of the dated former Wrestlers public house.
Blenheim Road: commemorates the battle of 1704 in the Seven Years War which ensured the Hanoverian succession to the English throne.
Bond Street: commemorates Henry Cooper Bond who had a tannery here and another on Bramford Road. He lived in a house at Majors Comer where the Regent now stands.
Boss Hall Road: two possible derivations, one from the name De Bois, landowners here in the 13th century, the other a contraction of Bordshaw Hall.
Bostock Road: named after the family who owned the Hippodrome in St Nicholas Street and the theatre in Carr Street.
Bridge Street: an obvious one as it leads to Stoke Bridge which gives access over the River Orwell to Over Stoke and Wherstead to the south. Not only the probable  original fording point of the river , when it was much wider and shallower, but also the notional point at which the brackish, tidal River Orwell waters mingle with the fresh water of the River Gipping. Bridge Street lettering has been lost.
Brook Street: currently split into Upper and Lower at the Dog's Head Street junction, this unassuming name commemorates a time when free flowing water  was a common feature of the public streets. Water is said to have flowed down Dairy Lane (later Fonnereau Road) and from the springs and ponds in Christchurch Park, funnelling down Northgate Street and into Brook Street towards the River Orwell below Stoke Bridge. Sluices on the ponds in the park could be opened and the flooding waters pouring through the town are said to have sometimes caused real problems to those on foot. See The Wash, Stepples Street.
Bulwer Road: commemorates James Redford Bulwer, QC (1820-1899), MP for Ipswich 1874-1880.
Burlington Road: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Burrell Road: named after Peter Robert Burrell (1810-1909) who was responsible in July 1860 for redesigning the approach roads to the newly built (1860) railway station once Stoke Tunnel was built. Burrell Road runs parallel with the river to link the station with Stoke Bridge. See also Willoughby Road. Burrell rose very high becoming heir in 1870 to the Gwydyr barony and he lived at and rebuilt Stoke Park Mansion.
Canham Street: commemorates William James Canham. In 1883 he acquired a 75 year lease from the Borough of grazing land here. He was a furniture van proprietor with premises in Portman Road. Houses were built on the land in 1933.
Carr Street: has an uncertain root in a variety of spellings, but in the reign of Edward I (1239–1307) the principal resident of 'Karistrete' was William Kaa and the name reappears as 'Carystrete' in 1402.
Cecil Road: named in 1929, it commemorates Viscount Edward Algernon Robert Gascoyne Cecil (1864-1958), a leading figure in the founding of the League of Nations after the First World War.
Chalon Street: together with Metz and Sedan Streets commemorates events in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. [These last two have disappeared under the development of Princes Street.]
Chapman Sreet (at the back of the New Wolsey Theatre): named after Samuel Belcher Chapman who lived in Ipswich 1822-1880. Chemist and druggist in Tavern Street, later the Cornhill, and generous philanthropist founding his Girl's Industrial Home in nearby Black Horse Lane.
Chevallier Street: commemorates Dr Barrington Chevallier (1818-1889), Mayor of Ipswich 1873-1874.
Clarkson Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Cobbold Street: runs between St Margaret's Green (not very green these days) and Christchurch Street (see Withipoll Street for history of Chistchurch Mansion ownership). John Chevallier Cobbold (1797–1882) is credited with opening up railway communications to Ipswich. Felix Thornley Cobbold (1841–1909) was born at Holywells Mansion (now demolished) and was also part of the famous farming and brewing family and benefactor to the town (notably Christchurch Park and Mansion and Gippeswick Park).
College Street: owes its name to the college planned by Cardinal Wolsey as a main feeder school to his Cardinal College Oxford. In 1529 building began on the site of the dissolved Priory of St Peter and St Paul but it was incomplete when Wolsey fell from grace and died in 1530. The only remaining feature of the college is the water gate which, in dilapidated form, still stands in College Street. Home of St Peter's Church and Burtons lettering.
Colman Street: cut across the garden of Dr Colman in 1821. His house and garden at the comer of Northgate Street are marked on the Pennington map of 1778.
Coprolite Street: running from the Neptune Quay and Duke Street formed in 1850s at the time that Edward Packard set up his fertiliser factory on the lock side of the road, processing coprolites  (phospahatic nodules dug from the base of 'Suffolk Crag' in coastal regions of Suffolk.
Corder Road: John Shewell Corder (1856-1922) was a distinguished architect in the town with over 100 commissions to his name (see Scarborrow for a short biography). [requires confirmation]
Cox Lane: the centre of the extensive pottery industry for almost 500 years ('Ipswich Ware' was dated from the mid-7th  to the mid-9th century and was the only wheel-made and kiln-fired pottery made in England during that period; it was widely traded) this now insignificant lane is one of the town's oldest routes running between Carr Street and the top of Foundation Street. Once known as Cock's Lane (among many other names), the derivation could come from cock-fighting which certainly took place at the nearby Cock & Pye public house.
Coyte's Gardens: commemorates Dr William Beeston Coyte and his noted botanical garden marked on the Pennington map of 1778. He published two catalogues of his plants, 1796 and 1907, which established the national importance of the garden.
Crane Hill: commemorates the Crane family. Christopher Crane held office as a chamberlain (financial officer) of the Borough circa 1564. He was bom in the parish of St Matthew. Crane Hill is home to milepost.
Currier's Lane: running off Elm Street was a place known for the tanning trade since medieval times. A 'curryer' finished the dry leather by greasing it to make it flexible. Formerly known as Barkers Street after the 'barker' who steeped fising nets in an oak bark solution to help preserve them in the sea (another form of tanning). Home of the now vanished Grey Coat Boys School.
Cutler Street: commemorates the Cutler family of St Nicholas parish, members of which held in the 17th century the offices of bailiff, justice and coroner of the Borough.
Dairy Lane: see Fonnereau Road, Brook Street.
Dial Lane: the earlier name of Cooke Row was in use until about 1844 but it became the present name because of the clock which then stood out from the west face of the tower of St Lawrence church. The clock was removed when the tower was rebuilt in 1882. Home of the art nouveau gem Scarborow.
Dillwyn Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Dog's Head Street: name derived from the inn The Dog's Head In The Pot which stood at the north-east end of the street, or narrow Dog's Head In The Pot Lane as it was called on the Ogilvy map of 1674. Later greatly widened into the present Dog's Head Street.
Duke Street: seems to have progressed by 1844 from the earlier humble name of Duck Street, as given on the Ogilvy map of 1674. It has been suggested that ducks were kept in this area adjacent to shipyards and the river. Site of the now vanished  Electricity sign and Ransomes lettering.
Elliott Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Ernleigh Road: developed by a local builder Ernest Lee. "I had already worked out the reason for the name of the road through the original conveyance, it also mentions that Ernest William Lee lived at "Halliwell" Cauldwell Hall Road. So I assume that he also developed the road south of Ernleigh Road, yes, Halliwell Road [both off Britannia Road]." Note from Robert who in 2011 bought a house in Ernleigh Road - thanks.
Felaw Street: named, along with the adjacent maltings now converted to offices, after 15th century local merchant, Portman and commissioner Richard Felaw who was eight times bailiff and twice MP for Ipswich. He bequeathed his house in what is now Foundation Street (the site is now a multi-storey car park) to the Ipswich School, endowing it with lands so that children of needy parents could attend without paying fees. One of the first pupils to benefit from Felaw's endowment was a young Thomas Wolsey, later Cardinal Wolsey. See Wolsey Street.
Fletcher Road: commemorates Mrs E M Fletcher, member of the Borough Council 1922- 1933 for St Margaret's Ward. Her husband was rector of St Matthew's 1900-1915.
Fonnereau Road: formerly Dairy Lane, it runs down the western side of the Park (see Withipoll Street for history of Chistchurch Mansion ownership) as the lower extension of Henley Road - named after the village at its far end. For period photograph of the Park Bakery at the corner of Fonnereau Road, see Introduction.
Gatacre Road: commemorates Major-General Sir William Forbes Gatacre (1843-1906) who served with distinction in India, Egypt and in the Boer War 1899-1901 in South Africa. From 1898 to 1904 he commanded the army's eastern district based at Colchester. Home of Bramford Road School lettering.
Gaye Street: commemorates Charles Gaye (1804-1882) rector of St Matthew's 1847-1875.
Gibbons Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Hatton Court: Ipswich was home to many notable people, including two Chancellors. The first is Christopher Hatton (1540–1591) who was born and lived in a fine White House, still standing, in the town centre. [requires confirmation]
Hervey Street: was cut through land farmed by a farmer called Hervey. The 1855 Suffolk directory records an Ernest Hervey occupying Bolton Farm in this area.
Hossack Road: commemorates James Francis Clark Hossack (1868-1937) a local doctor of the East Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital, who was a member of the Borough Council 1908-1929 representing St Margaret's Ward, mayor in 1929 and became an alderman in 1930.
Hutland Road: derives from the huts that occupied an area of land near to the military barracks on Woodbridge Road.
Ivry Street: relates to the history of the Fonnereau family who had been in the 15th century Earls of Yvery in Normandy. Ivry Street is home to the Pathology lettering.
Kelly Road: commemorates Sir Fitzroy Kelly (1796-1880), a distinguished lawyer. Owner of The Chantry 1852-1867, he was MP for Ipswich 1835, 1837-1841 and 1852-1866.
Lacey Street: commemorates Robert Lacey, named as president of the Ipswich Freehold Land Society in their prospectus of 1849.
Moffatt Street: commemorates Alexander Moffatt, Town Clerk of the Borough 1925-1946.
Murray Road: The owners of the land across which this road was cut were the Cobbold family. John Dupuis Cobbold of Holy Wells married Lady Evelyn Murray, daughter of the 7th Earl of Dunmore.
Navarre Street: relates to the Fonnereau family, who were in the 15th century Earls of Yvery in Normandy, and their sovereign King Henry of Navarre. This remnant of a street, cut off by the car park behind the Cricketers pub in Crown Street, is off Neale Street.
Neale Street: In 1793 the Reverend Charles William Fonnereau had married Harriet Debora Neale, daughter of a Thomas Neale of Freston. In 1882 a Thomas Neale is recorded as being in residence at Christchurch Mansion.
Nottidge Road: named after the founder of HolyTrinity Church in Back Hamlet. In 1835 this church was built (Frederick Hall - Architect) at the Ipswich Docks as a Chapel of Ease to nearby St Clement’s Church, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity by the Reverend John Thomas Nottidge (1776-1847) M.A., Patron and Rector of St. Clement's and St. Helen's Churches. This was the first Anglican parish church – paid for by Nottidge – to be built in Ipswich since the Reformation and is one of the few churches in the whole country that was built during the reign of King William IV (the “Sailor King”). [requires confirmation]
Paget Road: commemorates the connection of Lord Paget (later the Marquis of Anglesea) with Ipswich. In 1805, as Lord Paget, he received the Duke of York when he came to review the troops on Rushmere Heath.
Patteson Road: commemorates the connection between the Cobbold and Patteson families, and several of the Cobbolds bore Patteson as a second name. John Coleridge Patteson, the first Bishop of Melanesia and grandson of the Rev Henry Patteson of Drinkstone, was killed on a Pacific island in 1871, the result of trouble caused by Englishmen still engaged in slave trading. There is a large memorial cross to him in St Mary Le Tower churchyard.
Portman Road: Portman (originally Portman's) Road was built in the mid-19th century at the same time as Prince's Street, running from Handford Road across the Corporation Marshes (including Portmen's Marsh) to a junction with Railway Station Road, later to become part of Price's Street. In the 1940s the continuation of the upper part of Portman Road north of Handford Road and running up to Barrack corner was also called Portman Road (formerly Mill Lane and later Mill Street). Under the Charter given to Ipswich by King John in 1200 the government of the town was placed in the hands of two bailiffs and four coroners who were elected at a meeting in the churchyard of St Mary Le Tower on 29 June 1200. At that meeting the inhabitants decided to elect twelve 'capital portmen' reflecting the importance of Ipswich as a port. The name is known nationally and abroad because it is home to the Ipswich Football Club ground. See also Portman's Walk.
 Portman's Walk: running westward from the junction with Portman Road, this is now known as Alf Ramsey Way to comemorate the famous football manager whose statuestand near the junction. Historians might regret the loss of the original name which was in use for 300 years. The first Portmen of Ipswich were granted a meadow named Odenholm or Oldenholm (later Portmen's Marsh) on which to keep their horses. See also Portman Road.
Pearce Road: this is on land developed by the Ipswich Freehold Land Society, of which Joseph Pearce was secretary 1850-1876.
Prince's (or Princes) Street: named after Queen Victoria's Consort, Prince Albert, it was developed in several sections. Originally intended to link Cornhill with Friar's Bridge, the site of the present Greyfriars roundabout, it cut diagonally and brutally through buildings, gardens (see Coyte's Gardens), streets and lanes. It was still unfinished when the second Ipswich railway station opened, once the Stoke Hill tunnel had been constructed (see Eastern Union Railway page) and Railway Station Road was built down to Friar's Bridge, where a timber bridge was built to connect to the town centre. Eventually Princes Street took over the upper part of King Street below Cornhill and now runs all the way to the station.
Ransome Road: (and other Ransome names) marks the major role played in the town by Ransomes engineering works (see our Ransomes page).
Ringham Road: commemorates Henry Ringharn (1806-1866) of St John's Road, a wood- carver of national repute. He was involved in restoration work in over eighty Suffolk churches.
Schreiber Road: Possibly named after Lieutenant-Colonel James Alfred Schreiber who was of Irish descent, captain in the Dragoons Guards. He died at Melton, Suffolk in August 1840. His son Charles Schreiber was born at Colchester and became a Conservative MP (but not for Ipswich). [requires confirmation]
Salthouse Street: running from Common Quay (The Custom House) to Fore Street, it commemorates the importance of the salt trade and of a salt house where evaporated seawater salt from Newcastle and rock salt mined in Cheshire were imported and sold as cattle licks and to the tannery trade. More prominent than the short, L-shaped street, the name lives on in The Salthouse Harbour Hotel (formerly John Good & Sons) on the Wet Dock.
Shafto Road: a family name connected with the Adair family of Flixton Hall, Bungay, one of whose members, Hugh Edward Adair, was MP for Ipswich 1847-1874. See Adair Road.
Sharp Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Sherrington Road: commemorates Sir Charles Scott Sherrington OM (1857-1952) who attended Ipswich School 1871-1876 and later married into the Wright family of Preston Manor,
Suffolk. He discovered the physiology of the brain, for which he received a 1932 Nobel Prize.
Sidegate Lane: runs from Humber Doucy Lane to Woodbridge Road. This erstwhile country lane was used by some travellers to avoid the Yarmouth Turnpike tollgate at the junction of Rushmere and Woodbridge Roads (the tollhouse is now Barclays Bank and flint walling can still be seen at the base of the wall in Rushmere Road). To avoid loss of revenue the turnpike trust erected a side gate at the junction with Woodbridge Road, thus giving the lane its name.
Silent Street: there are two commonly-believed sources of this name. 1. The street became unnaturally quiet due to the large number of deaths from plague in 1665-6 (one week 34 out of 64 burials were deaths from plague). 2. More likely explanation is that straw was laid down on the street to deaden the noise of passing horses and carts when Curson House (known as King's Hospital - the building no longer exists) was used as a hospitalsick and wounded seamen during the Dutch wars of the 1650s, 1660s and 1670s. However, R. Malster's 'A-Z' book (see Reading List) points out that the first recorded use of 'Silent Street' as a name wasn't unitl 1764.
Slade Street: tiny street running between Star Lane and Salthouse Street named in the 20th century after Sir Thomas Slade, surveyor to the Navy and designer of Nelson's flagship The Victory. Early in his career, he was surveyor of several naval ships built in Ipswich, married an Ipswich woman and was buried in nearby St Clements churchyard (grave now lost) in 1771.
Smart Street: home of Smart Street School. William Smart (or Smarte) is one of the best known merchants of Tudor period Ipswich. He is better known for being the founder of the Town Library bequeathed to Ipswich at his death in 1599 (it is currently house at The Ipswich School). However, he has also made great contributions to the Tooley Almshouses by expanding the structure. See Tooley Street.
Stepples Street: the current name of Orwell Place is a meagre name for such an interesting street. The waters which flowed downhill towards the river were often of such volume that stepping stones were needed for pedestrians to be able to cross at the present junction of Eagle Street and Orwell Place without getting their feet and legs wet. 'The Stepples' were recognised in the original street name. See The Wash, Brook Street. Home to The Unicorn.
Toller Road: commemorates Richard Toller, head brewer and manager 1896-1922 at the nearby Cobbold's brewery.
Tomline Road: named after George Tomline (1813-1889), referred to as Colonel Tomline, was an English politician who served as an MP, was a keen amateur astronomer who built an observatory at his mansion: Orwell Park, Nacton (now a public school). He was founder and chairman of the Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company which built the Felixstowe Branch Line and established the Port of Felixstowe. Tomline Road in Ipswich runs parallel to the railway line between Foxhall and Derby Roads.
Tooley Street: named after the wealthy 16th century merchant Henry Tooley, benfactor of Tooley's Almshouses in Foundation Street. Died in 1551.
Tudor Place: off Woodbridge Road near Christchurch Street, was named as it led to Tudor's Circus which was held for many years on the meadow which stood adjacent to the Mulberry Tree (later The Milestone, The Beer House etc.). The circus closed in 1904 and the Drill Hall was subsequently built on part of the site.
Vernon Street: in Over Stoke was cut through to Stoke Bridge in the mid-nineteenth century, named after Admiral Vernon of Orwell Park (see also Tomline Road for Colonel Tomline, owner of Orwell Park). It may be difficult to believe, but the narrow Bell Lane running up the side of  The Old Bell public house was the original feeder road for traffic over Stoke Bridge, via Austin Street and into Wherstead Road. Home to the first Co-operative store in Ipswich.
Wallace Road: commemorates Sir Richard Wallace of Sudbourne Hall, founder of the Wallace Collection in London. He was appointed High Steward of Ipswich in 1883 and was President of Ipswich Museum 1876-1885.
Wash, The: the currently named Upper and Lower Orwell Streets were known as The Wash because of the water which flowed from the natural springs around Spring Road, down St Helens Street and from Major's Corner down to the River Orwell. The name may also refer to the area of the Common Wash where the washing of clothes was allowed (being banned by bye-law at the conduit in Tavern Street). Some people still called this area The Wash in the 20th century. See Stepples Street, Brook Street.
Wilberforce Street: see Abolitionists (slavery).
Willoughby Road: running uphill from Burrell Road to Belstead Road, it is named after Peter Burrell's son Willoughby Burrell. See also Burrell Road.
Withipoll Street: Christchurch Park Mansion, was built between 1549 - 1550 by Edmund Withipoll on the site of the Augustine Priory (demolished in 1530). The Withipolls sold the Mansion 100 years later to the Devereaux family, and they another 100 years later to the Fonnereaus, a well to do Ipswich family.  In 1892 Felix Thornley Cobbold (see Cobbold Street) bought it from the Fonnereaus and gave it, along with the magnificent surrounding public park, to the people of Ipswich to enjoy.
Wolsey Street: among other  addresses with the name Wolsey (also nearby Cardinal Street), this small street  behind the Greyriars tower block owes its name to the most famous Ipswich historical personality. Son of an Ipswich butcher, he was born in St Nicholas Street not far from the short street which now bears his name (and a place from 2011 which is home to a fine seated sculpture of Cardinal Wolsey). He rose to become the Lord Chancellor, a hugely powerful role, of Henry VIII for fourteen years. See College Street.
Wykes Bishop Street: The Bishop's Wick, or Wicks Episcopi as it was sometimes called, was one of the four hamlets into which the town was once divided. It is the area to the south of Felixstowe Road which now includes Bishop's Hill, extending to the river and including Holywells Park where the residence of the Bishop of Norwich stood within the extensive moat (fed by the local springs) which is still to be seen. Wykes Bishop continued in the hands of successive bishops from 1235 until the properties of the diocese were exchanged for those of St Benet's Abbey by Henry VIII.  This street is home of the 'Ransomes' sign'.

There are more: we welcome contributions, additions and corrections here.

The list is based on The Ipswich Society Newsletter, April 2004 (Issue 155). The original information is based on 'The Lewcock Collection: Ipswich memorabilia and notes compiled and collected by Edward Hussey Lewcock including notes on Ipswich street names, 1960...' which is now held by the Suffolk Record Office. See the Links page for the Society's website.

Related pages: Street index.
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