Walks Through History - Ipswich

Friars and Dissenters is one of eight walks from Carol Twinch's Walks Through History - Ipswich series.

Walks Through History is a collection of eight walks designed for visitors, whether local or from away, to see what of the town’s diverse past can still be seen today, how it features in the town’s history and to get a taste of what Ipswich is all about. As well as exploring the Town Centre, special attention is paid to discovering the Riverside Paths, the judicial and administrative quarter and Ipswich Town Football Club. Two of the walks take in the fast-changing and rapidly developing Waterfront where the University College Campus and new marinas have transformed the quays.

Whether by coincidence or design, the new town architecture is one of reflections, particularly in the Russell Road administrative centre. The coloured glass of the University Campus Suffolk building reflects the masts of the Neptune Marina, the New Suffolk College glows with the available light, the Willis Building throws up extraordinary reflections from its many angles, while the waters of the Wet Dock and River Orwell offer myriad calm and rippling reflections of sky, clouds and river craft of many types. 
Walks Through History takes the form of town walks, but it can as easily be read in a comfortable chair, a kind of fireside ramble through just a few of the innumerable strands of Ipswich history.  As the Town Guides are rightly fond of saying, walking through Ipswich without a guide is like going round with the sound turned off. Lately there has been an increased interest in town history and the Guides are constantly surprised and delighted by the number of locals who join the visitors on their conducted walks. Invariably is heard ‘I’ve lived here all my life and never noticed that before!’