The Orwell is noted for its picturesque beauty. This river has been much improved and deepened, and a wet dock has been formed, comprising an area of 33 acres, in which vessels drawing from 14 to 15 feet of water can at all times lay afloat. The trade and commerce of this port has very materially increased since its formation. Steam vessels sail every tide to Harwich.
The Market for corn and cattle is held on Tuesday, and the general Market on Tuesday and Saturday. St. George’s Fair is held on the first Tuesday in May, and two following days, there is also a Stock Fair at the same time. The Lamb Fair on August 22nd, and two following days, is held at Handford Hall Farm, and is a considerable Fair for the sale of lambs and stock. There are also monthly sales by auction for horses, cattle, &c., conducted by Mr. J. W. Knights, at his sale yard. The Corporation consists of the mayor, 10 aldermen, and 30 town councillors. The town is divided into five wards, viz., St. Clement’s, St. Margaret’s, Middle ward, Bridge ward, and Westgate Gate; each ward returns six councillors for three years, two go out of office every year. There is a Borough Police. Since the year 1839, the Summer Assizes have been held here. The Petty Sessions are held here, and here is a Court both for civil and criminal causes. No freeman can be compelled to serve on juries out of the town, or to discharge the duties of county officers, excepting that of Sheriff. The borough returns two members to Parliament. The parishes are—St. Clement, with 7,050 inhabitants; St. Mary Key, 1,013; St. Lawrence, 590; St. Margaret, 5,892; St. Helen, 2,593; St. Stephen, 522; St. Mary Tower, 995; St. Mary Westfield, 324; St. Matthew, 5,806; St. Peter, 2,541; St. Mary Stoke, 2,031; St. Nicholas, 1,940; St. Mary Elms, 1,051; and St. Mary Whitton, 476. Trinity church is a chapel of ease to St. Clement’s. Here are a Jews’ Synagogue, Roman Catholic chapel, 5 Baptist chapels, 2 Independent chapels, an Unitarian chapel, a Quakers’ meeting house, 3 Wesleyan chapels, a Primitive Methodists’, and a Swedenborgian chapel.
There are many objects of interest to the antiquarian in and about the town. A very fine building was erected on the common Quay in 1845, the centre of which is appropriated as a hall of commerce.
The Mechanics’ Institution is in a very flourishing condition and has a library of more than 4000 volumes.
The Literary Institution, held in a portion of the Town Hall, has belonging to it a library of ancient and modern literature. The Philosophical and Philological Societies hold fortnightly meetings, from September to March.
Here are also a Museum, Theatre, Temperance Hall, Public Bath, Fine Art Association, French and Theological Libraries. There are several Charity Schools, Almshouses, and many charitable institutions, amongst which are the Suffolk and Ipswich Hospital and Dispensary, with 30 beds, situated in Berners street.
About a mile Westward from the town is Sproughton Chantry; the mansion, from its elevated position, commands an extensive and picturesque view of the adjacent country. Other seats in the neighbourhood are Birkfield Lodge, Holy Wells, the Red House, and Stoke Park, the seat of Peter Robert Burrell, Esq.
St. Clement’s Church, erected about 1500, is a plain structure, consisting of a nave, two spacious side-aisles, and a fine tower, in which are a good clock and six musical bells. A few years ago, the interior was re-seated, and the exterior flinted and thoroughly repaired. Among the monuments in the interior is one to the memory of Thomas Eldred, who accompanied Cavendish in his circumnavigation of the globe, during the years 1586–7–8. The benefice is a rectory, consolidated with that of St. Helen’s, and now valued at £326 per annum. In monastic times, it was appropriated to the Priory of St. Peter. The executors of the late Rev. J. T. Nottidge are patrons, and the Rev. W. W. Wodehouse, M.A., is the incumbent.
Trinity Church is a Chapel of Ease, or District Church, erected in 1835, at a cost of £2,000, by the late Rev. J. T. Nottidge, then patron and incumbent. The present incumbent is the Rev. F. H. Maude.
St. Helen’s Church, on the East side of the town, is of very ancient foundation, but was rebuilt in 1835, and neat brick transepts added in 1837; and a few years ago the nave was rebuilt and fitted with new open benches. It was anciently appropriated to the Leprous hospital of St. James, or Mary Magdalen, which stood near it; but it is now a rectory, which ever since the Reformation, has been consolidated with that of St. Clement’s, and is valued in K.B. at £8 13s. 9d.