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Ipswich Docks

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Aerial view
Stavros S Niarchos in Ipswich dock (2009) - Fairline Yachts and waterfront in the background

The Ipswich Docks, Ipswich wet dock and the wet dock, are a series of docks in Port of Ipswich located at a bend of the River Orwell which has been used for trade since at least the 8th Century. A wet dock was constructed in 1842 which was 'the biggest enclosed dock in the United Kingdom' at the time. A major regeneration of the area has taken place since 1999.[1]

History

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Economic stagnation

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Although Ipswich had enjoyed "a great trade" in the sixteenth century, by the seventeenth century this had gone into decline. This in turn had led to the neglect of basis 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 three miles downstream at Downham Reach.[2]

Initial work

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Laying of the First Stone, 26 June 1839 by George Green Sampson, Mayor of Ipswich, Dykes Alexander, Treasurer of the Ipswich Docks Commission, Peter Bartholomew Long, Clerk, Henry Robinson Palmer, vice-president of the Institute of Civil Engineers, David Thornbory, contractor. Drawing by Henry Davy.[3]

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In 1837 an act of Parliament (7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. lxxiv) allowed the Ipswich Dock Commissioners to construct a new wet dock 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 [of Ipswich]. The Ipswich Dock Commission was provided with 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.[4] The dock opened in 1842; the original lock gates entered the dock from the New Cut opposite Felaw Street.[5] The new custom house (now known as the 'Old Custom House') was completed in 1845.[6]

The development attracted new industries to the dock area such as the coprolite factory founded by Edward Packard in 1849. This factory gave its name to Coprolite Street in the docks area.[7]

Renovation following 1877 act

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Map showing the quays to the north and east of the dock and part of the New Cut - 1884
Map showing the New Cut, the lock gates, the promenade and the griffin ferry - 1884
Map showing the original lock gates 1884

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.[8] The new lock gates were constructed by the time of the 1898 act which authorised the construction of a swing bridge.[9]

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. There was however a condition that work had to be completed within 10 years and following World War I an extension was granted by an act of Parliament (8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lvii) in 1918.[10]

1950-1973

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Ipswich Dock Act 1971
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to authorise the Ipswich Dock Commission to construct further works; and for other purposes.
Citation1971 c. xiv
Dates
Royal assent30 March 1971
Status: Current legislation
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Ipswich Dock Act 1971 (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[11] when the first stage of the development was completed, further work was carried out in 1977 and 1979 and then again in 1998.[12]

Legislation

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Ipswich Port Improvement Act 1805
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act for improving and rendering more commodious the Port of Ipswich, in the County of Sufffolk.
Citation45 Geo. 3. c. ci
Dates
Royal assent10 July 1805
Other legislation
Repealed byIpswich Port Act 1837
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Port Act 1837
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to amend an Act of the Forty-fifth Year of the Reign of King George the Third, for improving and rendering more commodious the Port of Ipswich, and for constructing a Wet Dock there.
Citation7 Will. 4 & 1 Vict. c. lxxiv
Dates
Royal assent30 June 1837
Other legislation
Repealed byIpswich Port Authority Act 1986
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Commission Act 1841
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to enable the Ipswich Dock Commissioners to raise a further Sum of Money.
Citation4 & 5 Vict. c. lii
Dates
Royal assent21 June 1841
Other legislation
Repealed byIpswich Port Authority Act 1986
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1843
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to enlarge the Powers of the Ipswich Dock Commissioners.
Citation6 & 7 Vict. c. xx
Dates
Royal assent9 May 1843
Other legislation
Repealed byIpswich Port Authority Act 1986
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1852
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to consolidate and amend the Acts relating to the Ipswich Dock, to allow certain Drawbacks, and for other Purposes.
Citation15 & 16 Vict. c. cxvi
Dates
Royal assent17 June 1852
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1877
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to confer further powers on the Ipswich Dock Commissioners.
Citation40 & 41 Vict. c. ccxvi
Dates
Royal assent10 August 1877
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1898
Act of Parliament
Citation61 & 62 Vict. c. cxciii
Dates
Royal assent2 August 1898
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1913
Act of Parliament
Citation3 & 4 Geo. 5. c. cvi
Dates
Royal assent15 August 1913
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Dock Act 1918
Act of Parliament
Citation8 & 9 Geo. 5. c. lvii
Dates
Royal assent21 November 1918
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Port Authority Act 1979
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to extend the time for the completion of the works authorised by the Ipswich Dock Act 1971; to increase the borrowing powers of the Ipswich Port Authority; and for connected purposes.
Citation1979 c. ix
Dates
Royal assent26 July 1979
Other legislation
Repealed byIpswich Port Authority Act 1986
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted
Ipswich Port Authority Act 1986
Act of Parliament
Long titleAn Act to extend the time for the completion of the works authorised by the Ipswich Dock Act 1971; to increase and amend the borrowing powers of the Ipswich Port Authority; to confer further powers on the Authority; to accord priority of passage to certain vessels passing to and from the port of Ipswich over certain other vessels not so passing; and for connected and other purposes.
Citation1986 c. xv
Dates
Royal assent25 July 1986
Text of statute as originally enacted

Ipswich Dock Commission

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Many notable local individuals were dock commissioners.

References

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  1. ^ "Ipswich Waterfront". Ipswich Borough Council. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  2. ^ Malster, Robert (1992). A Victorian vision : the Ipswich wet dock story. [Ipswich]: Ipswich Port Authority. ISBN 0-901029-09-2.
  3. ^ Van Loon, Borin. "Ipswich Historic Lettering: Wet Dock Davy drawing". www.ipswich-lettering.co.uk. Henry Davy. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020.
  4. ^ Twinch (2009), page 94
  5. ^ a b Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 17
  6. ^ "Old Custom House". Visit Ipswich. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
  7. ^ "The Story of Coprolite Street". Ipswich Maritime Trust. Ipswich Maritime Trust. 26 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 19
  9. ^ a b Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 20
  10. ^ a b Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 22
  11. ^ Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 73
  12. ^ "Modern ports: A UK policy - Annex 2: Case studies (Ipswich)". Department for Transport. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  13. ^ Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 18
  14. ^ Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 21
  15. ^ Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 24
  16. ^ Suffolk County Council (2009a), para 25
  17. ^ "ROYAL ASSENT - Ipswich Port Authority Act 1979". Hansard. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  18. ^ "ROYAL ASSENT - Ipswich Port Authority Act 1986". Hansard. Retrieved 2010-01-16.
  19. ^ "Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 3269". OPSI. Retrieved 2010-01-16.