Reports - Ipswich
Ipswich Autovon Exchange
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 32. Comments 12. Posted 27 January 2007.
The Autovon Exchange at Ipswich was one of the first places I visited when I started this hobby. Annoyingly I was thwarted and couldn't get in. Visit two and three were the same. But with the help of Abo, today we finally got in.
Put simply, Autovon was an (initially American) telephone system for it's defence. It allowed priority calling etc. I can't even begin to describe what the place was used for, but SubBrit has a pretty damn good piece.
The exchange at Ipswich closed in the 1990s and has suffered at the hands of vandals ever since. In the last year or so, Suffolk Aviation Heritage Museum have been working on site to restore it - judging by what we saw today, they have quite a job ahead of them.
Ipswich Lido / Broomhill Pool
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 19. Comments 15. Posted 27 January 2007.
The lido in Ipswich, aka Broomhill Pool was opened in 1938. It was thought to be one of the best pools of the time. It closed in 2002 to the disdain of many. There is a campaign to save and restore it though.
Ipswich Odeon Cinema
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Large photos 17. Comments 0. Posted 31 August 2008.
The Odeon cinema in Ipswich was the town's first multiplex when it opened in 1991. A huge rival Multiplex opened on the edge of Ipswich in 1998. The popularity of the new cinema led to the demise of the Odeon, and it closed its doors for the final time in August 2005.
The day after our visit, work was due to begin on converting it into a nightclub, bowling alley and restaurant complex - the lobby was full of new bar equipment and fittings. Over a year later, the conversion hasn't happened - developers pulled the plug on the conversion. The cinema, again, remains empty awaiting a buyer..
Ipswich Sugar Factory
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 105. Comments 10. Posted 22 August 2006.
The sugar factory in Ipswich was built in 1925. It was closed by British Sugar 76 years later. There are plans to turn the entire site into a housing with nature reserve.
I visited the factory with Speed and we spent around six hours exploring the place. A lot of the doors were bolted up and ladders were cut off. This meant that we couldn't climb the huge silos 
Undeterred, we did find our way into some of the buildings and tried to get to the top of what we could.. 
Ipswich Sugar Factory revisited
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 41. Comments 2. Posted 15 April 2007.
Met up with a large group of local regulars for a revisit to the sugar factory.
There were two real personal goals for this trip - see new stuff and get to the top of the silos. I think I done that!
R&W Paul Ltd Mill
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 22. Comments 0. Posted 27 January 2007.
Visited here again today with Abo. Nothing much to say about it, other than how different it looks in the daylight.
It still stinks of pigeons though.
A few photos from today - not many though, as most of the sights were covered last time.
Tolly Cobbold - Cliff Brewery
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 67. Comments 9. Posted 4 February 2007.
Thomas Cobbold opened his first brewery in Harwich in 1723. The water there was rather salty, which didn't make for a good ale. So he shipped it in from Ipswich - just up ther river. In 1746 he left Harwich and built a brewery in Ipswich.
In 1894 he (well, his descendants) rebuilt the brewery to meet increased demands - there were over 300 public houses in Ipswich at the time.
After a few name changes/mergers, it closed in 1989, only to re-open in 1990 after a successful management buyout. The brewery started brewing again, and in 1996 celebrated it's 250th anniversary - quite an acheivement! After the buyout, it was also opened up as a working museum to try and improve it's profitability. In 2002 it finally closed (again) and the wonderful machinery inside has succumbed to pigeon droppings There are rumours of re-opening it though...
Tolly Cobbold - Cliff Brewery revisited
Where? Ipswich, Suffolk. Photos 22. Comments 5. Posted 25 February 2007.
Last time I visited I found a little book about the place as we were leaving. Upon reading it, there were I saw pictures of a huge steam engine used to pump water. So a return visit was in order just to see it. I also wanted to take some better pics in the blue fermentation room.
Read full Tolly Cobbold - Cliff Brewery revisited article here
