The Ipswich Docks, Ipswich wet dock, and the wet dock are a series of

docks The word dock () in American English refers to one or a group of human-made structures that are involved in the handling of boats or ships (usually on or near a shore). In British English, the term is not used the same way as in American Engli ...

in the Port of Ipswich located at a bend of the

River Orwell The River Orwell flows through the county of Suffolk in England from Ipswich to Felixstowe. Above Ipswich, the river is known as the River Gipping, but its name changes to the Orwell at Stoke Bridge, about half a mile below where the river beco ...

, which has been used for trade since at least the 8th Century. A

wet dock The word dock () in American English refers to one or a group of human-made structures that are involved in the handling of boats or ships (usually on or near a shore). In British English, the term is not used the same way as in American Engl ...

was constructed in 1842, which was 'the biggest enclosed dock in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

' at the time. A major regeneration of the area has taken place since 1999.

History

Economic stagnation

Although Ipswich had enjoyed "a great trade" in the sixteenth century, by the seventeenth century this went into decline. This in turn had led to the neglect of basic facilities, such as the Common Quay, which was no longer accessible by vessels with a draft of 8 feet or more; such vessels had to transfer their cargoes into

lighters A lighter is a portable device which uses mechanical or electrical means to create a controlled flame, and can be used to ignite a variety of flammable items, such as cigarettes, butane gas, fireworks, candles, or campfires. A lighter typica ...

three miles downstream at Downham Reach.

Initial work

. In 1837 an act of Parliament ( 7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. lxxiv) allowed the Ipswich Dock Commissioners to construct a new

whilst also placing certain conditions on them. In addition to building the wet dock and providing a diversion for the river Orwell along a 'New Cut' to the west of the dock the commissioners were to allow ''all persons, with cattle and carriages, may thereby have free access to the dock and quays and the sides of the said new cut and channel'' and also to ''contribute to the health and recreation of the inhabitants f Ipswich'. The Ipswich Dock Commission was provided with an investment of £25,000 and the right to borrow a further £100,000 but needed a further loan of £20,000 and also an additional levy of six pence per tonne on all imported coal to fund the project. The dock opened in 1842; the original lock gates entered the dock from the New Cut opposite Felaw Street. The new

custom house A custom house or customs house was traditionally a building housing the offices for a jurisdictional government whose officials oversaw the functions associated with importing and exporting goods into and out of a country, such as collecting ...

(now known as the 'Old Custom House') was completed in 1845. The development attracted new industries to the dock area, such as the

coprolite A coprolite (also known as a coprolith) is fossilized feces. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour (in this case, diet) rather than morphology. The name ...

factory founded by Edward Packard in 1849. This factory gave its name to Coprolite Street in the docks area.

Renovation following 1877 act

The Ipswich Docks Act 1877 ( 40 & 41 Vict. c. ccxvi) allowed for the construction of a new lock in their present position to facilitate access to the dock and allow trams to operate along the length of the 'Island' between New Cut and the dock. The new lock gates were constructed by the time of the 1898 act, which authorised the construction of a swing bridge. Ipswich Docks Act 1913 ( 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. cvi) allowed for the construction of ''a new entrance to the docks comprising inner and outer gates and a swing bridge, a quay and various tramways,'' and also allowed for the 'stopping off' of various

rights of way A right of way (also right-of-way) is a specific route that people, animals, vehicles, watercraft, or utility lines travel, or the legal status that gives them the right to do so. Rights-of-way in the physical sense include controlled-access h ...

. There was, however a condition that work had to be completed within 10 years, and following

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, an extension was granted by an act of Parliament ( 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lvii) in 1918.

1950-1973

The (c. xiv) authorised the development of the West Bank to allow ro-ro ships to dock. The Ipswich Dock Commission was reconstituted as the Ipswich Port Authority in 1973 when the first stage of the development was completed, further work was carried out in 1977 and 1979 and then again in 1998.

Legislation

* Ipswich Dock Act 1837 ( 7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. lxxiv) Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 17 * Ipswich Dock Act 1852 ( 15 & 16 Vict. c. cxvi) * Ipswich Dock Act 1877 ( 40 & 41 Vict. c. ccxvi) Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 19 * Ipswich Dock Act 1898 ( 61 & 62 Vict. c. cxciii) Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 20 * Ipswich Dock Act 1913 ( 3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. cvi) * Ipswich Dock Act 1918 ( 8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lvii) Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 22 * Ipswich Dock Revision Order 1969 ( SI 1969/1521) * Ipswich Dock Act 1971 (c. xv) (c. xiv) * Ipswich Port Authority Act 1979 (c. ix) (c. ix) * Ipswich Port Authority Act 1986 (c. xv) (c. xv) * Port of Ipswich (Transfer of Undertaking) Harbour Revision Order 2002 ( SI 2002/3269)

Ipswich Dock Commission

Many notable local individuals were dock commissioners.

References

{{reflist Port of Ipswich