Explore Ipswich’s past through photos: student protests, ferry disaster, cinema fire, floods & film locations.
The European Gateway ferry disaster was awful. It happened on December 19, 1982. The Gateway collided with another ship.
The Gateway was a Townsend Thoresen ferry. It left Felixstowe heading to Europe.
Strong winds, force 8-10, blew that night. It collided with Speedlink Vanguard around 10:50 p.m. The Speedlink was headed to Harwich. Six people sadly died in this incident.
The European Gateway had a big hole. It listed, then capsized on a sandbank. There were 34 passengers and 36 crew onboard.
Ipswich’s Central Cinema burned down in 1950. The fire started next door at Haddock and Baines paper merchants. This happened on February 22nd. The cinema was ruined and stayed derelict for years.
Ipswich streets often flooded badly. This flooding happened until the 1980s. They improved drainage in the town center then. Low areas flooded during heavy rain before that.
Shops on Upper Brook Street were prone to floods. Homes on St Helen’s Street flooded too. Grimwade Street and Fore Street also had problems. The areas around Princes Street were vulnerable. Duke Street often saw flooding as well.
Michael Caine filmed in Ipswich. He shot scenes at the Waterfront for the movie ‘The Fourth Protocol’. Pierce Brosnan also starred in it, playing a KGB officer.
Ipswich and Felixstowe had raft races. Homemade rafts raced around Ipswich docks throughout the 1980s.
Felixstowe Round Table had a raft race. It was popular, held every year. It ran from the pier to the Spa Pavilion. Insurance costs ended the Felixstowe race, but the Lions Club briefly revived it later. Rowing also took place around Ipswich docks.