Ipswich

Station walk - by Michael Anderton

Background

The Eastern Union Railway first came to Suffolk in the first half of the 19th century when goods traffic from

London to Ipswich commenced on the 1st June 1846. The official opening of the line for passenger traffic took place on the 11th June 1846 to the original station at Croft Street. The Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds Railway Company's Engineer Peter Bruff constructed the 360 yard long tunnel through Stoke Hill and so began the next stage of the railway westwards that opened on the 7th December 1846. The new station on the present day site was designed by Sancton Wood and opened on 1st July 1860.

Walk Route

This walk follows the Gipping Valley River Path to Sproughton and returns via Chantry and Gippeswyk Parks. From the station forecourt cross the road and walk across the splendid Princes Street bridge. The plaque advises that the bridge was erected in 1927 and replaced one of wood and iron erected in 1860 when the road was first opened.

Turn left on the far side along the signposted Riverside Walk, passing under a railway bridge and on to join

West End Road by the weir that marks the end of the tidal and start of the freshwater parts of the river. The river was used for transportation as early as the 12th century and work started soon after 1790 to construct a navigation of 17 miles from Ipswich to Stowmarket. The improved waterway was opened in 1793 and lifted barges 27 metres through 15 locks over its length. Sadly the canal company went into liquidation and the navigation was ended by an act of parliament in 1932.

Walk on the roadside footway past Sir Alf Ramsey Way to the next river bridge and turn right on the path along the left of the river. Follow this path through to the London Road bridge and turn right across the bridge and then left down some steps to the path on the right side of the river. Pass under the Yarmouth Road bridge and on along the river path, parts of which have been surfaced adjacent to new housing. Walk under the Boss Hall railway bridge, up and down a set of steps by a guillotine flood control gate and then under the main line railway bridge. The path becomes more rural from here on and follows the Chantry Cut, a feature of the former navigation.

Pass under the A14 road bridge and then through the Anglian Water pumping station. Water is extracted from the river to supply Alton Reservoir where the water is purified and used to supply Ipswich and the surrounding area. Continue along the river path to emerge into the Sproughton Millennium Green and steps up to a kissing gate giving access to the road at the Sproughton bridge. Cross the river via the road bridge, pausing to look at Sproughton Mill on the other side.

Turn left into Church Lane, passing the church, the old flint village school, the modern primary school and on along to the end of the truncated lane. Walk under the A14 via a pedestrian underpass and on along the continuation of Church Lane to the first house on the left. Turn left through the gateway marked with a public footpath sign, walking between hedges and along a field edge to a stile (partly overgrown at the time of writing).

In the meadow beyond follow the path between hedges and fences on the right to another stile and on up to join Hadleigh Road. Turn left along the roadside footway and then right through the main gates of Chantry Park, walking up the drive to the Sue Ryder Home. Chantry Park was the home of many notable people for 300 years, in 1927 the estate was sold for housing development. Sir Arthur Churchman, later Lord Woodbridge, purchased it from the developer and gave it to Ipswich Corporation as a gift to be held in permanent trust for the people of Ipswich. From 1945 until the late 1980s many hundreds of people convalesced in the mansion after hospital treatment and more recently it has become a nursing home.

Follow the path around the left end of the mansion and into the formal gardens on the other side. Walk up some steps and along a path lined with conifer trees to reach an ornate stone seat. Turn left and then right on a tree lined drive to the park gates on London Road. Turn left on the roadside footway and down Crane Hill.

Before crossing the railway bridge turn right on the pedestrian and cycle path marked To Ipswich Railway Station via Gippeswyk Park. Follow the path through the park to emerge through the main gates onto Ancaster Road. Note the plaque on the wall that advises that the park was presented to the Borough of Ipswich by Felix Thornley Cobbold MP JP and that it can not be used for the drilling or instruction of soldiers or any military purposes. Turn left under the railway bridge and then right on Ranleigh Road to return to the start of the walk at the station.

Thank you for taking the time to explore this walk. We would love to hear your comments about this site and about your day out.

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