Why are they there? Ipswich

A look at the origins of Suffolk's ancient county town and how it now makes money.

Ipswich is now a town of an estimated 128,000 inhabitants, but it was founded during the Roman occupation. 

It started to develop under the Anglo-Saxons after the Italians had returned to Rome. Having excellent docks, the town became wealthy from trade with Scandinavia and Germany. In the 7th century Dutch potters arrived to set up large-scale potteries, wares from which enriched townspeople for a couple of hundred years. The merchants of Ipswich became renouned as rapidly as they made their money.

In recent times, Ipswich has operated as a commuter-belt town, feeding London with professional expertise. Its undergone considerable gentrification - particularly around the waterfront - and attracted higher earning residents, often those who have yet to bear children (DINKYS).

As the county town many civil and public servants live there working in the councils, hospitals, police or other public services. It's an agricultural centre too, with manufacturers, sugar beet businesses, telecoms research labs and yachtmakers among those industries generating GDP for the town.

With a strong artistic heritage including clubs, theatres and galleries, and much modern architecture like Norman Foster's Willis Faber and Dumas headquarters, Ipswich is something of a cultural hub often attracting trendy Londoners for the weekends.

Despite its size and reputation, Ipswich has yet to be granted city status. But that will surely come. If Croydon has no cathedral yet was granted that status, why not Ipswich?

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