Going hand in hand with culture and art, Ipswich has a strong commitment to literature. Geoffrey Chaucer, VS Pritchett, Jean Inglelow and Carl Giles are just some of the famous authors and illustrators who were born or worked in Ipswich. Charles Dickens based the setting for the Pickwick Papers on Ipswich following his visit to the town.
Blue Plaques |
| Address: | Across Ipswich | Telephone: | | |
| Web: | |
| Across Ipswich town centre you will find a number of Blue Plaques. Installed by the Ipswich Society they are a tribute to some of the most distinguished people who were born in Ipswich or subsequently lived here. Download the leaflet and follow a trail around Ipswich to discover some of the Ipswich’s fascinating history. |
| Additional Information | Some famous people who are included in the Blue Plaques include Nathaniel Bacon, Thomas Gainsborough, and Thomas Wolsey. |
Claude Cox Book Shop |
| Address: | 3-5 Silent Street, Ipswich, IP1 1TF | Telephone: | 01473 254776 | |
| Web: | |
| A completely unique shop. Selling a range of antiquarian books, with Suffolk, Ipswich, arts, being major themes. Browse at your leisure, and we are sure you will find something to capture your interest. |
| Additional Information | Claude Cox is open 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Thursday - Saturday, & Monday to Wednesday by appointment only. |
Central City Comics |
| Address: | 6 Eagle Street, Ipswich, IP4 1JA | Telephone: | 01473 233017 | |
| Web: | |
| If action comics, Spiderman, Batman and/or X Men get your attention then you’ll love this shop. Quirky, individual and totally out of this world! Okay, maybe that’s a bit over the top, but if you’re a comic fan you’ll understand. |
| Additional Information | Central City Comics is open Monday to Saturday 10am to 6pm. |
Darwin’s Letter |
| Address: | Ipswich Museum, High Street, Ipswich, IP1 3QH | Telephone: | 01473 433550 | |
| Web: | |
| In 2009 a letter from Charles Darwin was discovered in the archives of Ipswich Museum. Having been verified as original, the letter, dated 29th August 1872, can now be viewed at Ipswich Museum. A unique piece of historic literature. |
| Additional Information | Ipswich Museum is free to enter, and is open 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. |
The Giles Statue |
| Address: | The Giles Circus, Queen Street, Ipswich, IP1 1SW | Telephone: | | |
| Web: | |
| The Giles statue is located in an area of the town centre known as the Giles Circle. The statue is a tribute to Carl Giles who lived his adult life in the town, and the position of the statue is set so that Grandma is looking up at the office window where Giles used to work and from where he created many of his works. |
| Additional Information | Carl Giles was famous for his illustrations in the Daily Mail but did you know he was offered work as an illustrator for Walt Disney in the USA, but decided his future laid here in Ipswich? |
Ipswich Institute |
| Address: | Library & Reading Room, 15 Tavern Street, Ipswich,
IP1 3AA
The Admiral’s House, 13 Tower Street, Ipswich, IP1 3BE | Telephone: | 01473 253992 | |
| Web: | |
| The Ipswich Institute was founded in 1824 offering lending library facilities, along with wide programme of leisure learning courses, talks and trips. Talks are open to non-members and details of forthcoming talks and events open to the public can be found on the Ipswich Town & Waterfront events page. |
| Additional Information | The historic Admiral's House was once occupied by Admiral Benjamin Page and visited by the Duke of Wellington. Visit today and you will discover an art centre, study rooms, a licensed restaurant and a comfortable coffee lounge. |
Ipswich County Library |
| Address: | Northgate Street, Ipswich, IP1 3DE | Telephone: | 01473 263810 | |
| Web: | |
| The largest library in Ipswich, and the most impressive too. This historic building has retained its high ceiling and beautiful architecture, and upstairs in the reference library you can admire the stained glass windows and wood panelling. All this, and a huge selection of books, CDs and DVDs. |
| Additional Information | Open 9am to 6pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 9am to 7pm Tuesday and Friday; and 10am to 4pm Saturday. In addition to being a lending library, events are regularly held. Please check the website for further details. |
Ipswich Arts Association Town Lectures and Concerts |
| Address: | Museum Street Methodist Church, 17 Black Horse Lane, Ipswich, IP1 2EF | Telephone: | 01473 215208 | |
| Web: | www.ipswich-arts.org.uk |
| The series of Town Lectures and Concerts are organised by the Ipswich Arts Association, and take place at lunchtime, hence they have been affectionately known by locals as the lunchtime lectures and concerts. Lectures focus on aspects of local history and culture, in contrast to the concerts where artists and performers are from across the globe. |
| Additional Information | Town lectures are concerts run from 1-1.50pm, no booking is required, but numbers are limited. Tea and coffee is available prior to each event. There is also a retiring collection to defray expenses. |
Literary Ipswich - Ipswich Literary Festival |
| Address: | Across Ipswich | Telephone: | | |
| Web: | |
| The Literary Ipswich started back in 2006 as part of the Ip-Art Festival, and in 2013 it branched out to become the Ipswich Literary Festival in its own name. A five day event that take place in October across a number of venues the Festival is a celebration of the written word, and includes speakers, competitions, poetry reading and more. |
| Additional Information | The full programme for 2014 has yet to be released. Details will be uploaded onto the Ipswich Town & Waterfront website as soon as they become available. |
Suffolk Records Office |
| Address: | Gatacre Road, Ipswich, IP1 2LQ | Telephone: | 01473 263909 | |
| Web: | |
| Looking to uncover something from your past? Or maybe you want to find out more about the history of Ipswich? The Suffolk Records Office is a great place to start your investigation, with records that go back as far as the 12th century. There are also records from more recent times relating to individuals and a wide range of organisations, such as churches, chapels, estates, schools, hospitals, businesses, families, clubs and societies. |
| Additional Information | Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm. The Suffolk Record Office also puts on a series of talks on local history, including people, places and events. Further details on the current programme can be found on the website. |
Waterstone’s Bookshop |
| Address: | 19 Buttermarket, Ipswich, IP1 1BQ | Telephone: | 08432 908407 | |
| Web: | |
| Well, who can resist a good book, and Ipswich has a large Waterstone’s Bookshop with a wide stock of books, CDs, DVDs, as well as novelty gifts, cards and wrapping paper. |
| Additional Information | Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10.30am to 4.30pm. Why not take time out with your new book and enjoy a coffee at one of the independent coffee houses in Ipswich? Relax, turn a few words, and soak up some of the Ipswich atmosphere. |
The Waterfront Book Club |
| Address: | Jerwood DanceHouse, Foundry Lane, Ipswich, IP4 1DW | Telephone: | | |
| Web: | |
| Love books? Want to meet like-minded people for discussion and debate around a range of historical and modern literature? The Waterfront Book Club has three meeting dates each month so you can choose the day and time that suits you. Current reading material is posted on the Facebook page, and we recommend you get in touch via email before attending – just so they know to expect you! |
| Additional Information | The Waterfront Book Club meets at The Jerwood DanceHouse, and food and drink can be purchased from DanceEats. |
