New book reveals more about Ipswich’s significant Anglo-Saxon past

Gipeswic: The Anglo-Saxon Town of Ipswich captures a lifetime of work and excavations by author, Keith Wade, a local archaeologist since 1974.

Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service has published the book, who Keith worked for until his retirement in 2012.

The book supports his long-held assertion that Ipswich is the country’s oldest town with continuous occupation on the same site. Ipswich dates back to the 7th century, and is one of the three earliest English towns (the others being Southampton and London).

Keith’s favourite site to excavate was prior to the building of the Buttermarket Shopping Centre where a 7th century cemetery was discovered, overlaid by streets and buildings of the 8th to 11th centuries. The site then became the medieval Carmelite Friary.

Another highlight was the excavation east of Foundation Street, discovering the first town bank and ditch built by the Vikings. Also uncovered here was the medieval Dominican Friary, the remains of which were then consolidated for public view rather than being built over.

Keith Wade, the book’s author, said:

“For me, Ipswich has been an outstanding archaeological project. I have many fond memories of the sites and the many diggers, without whom none of it would have been possible.

“I was privileged to be in the right place at the right time to excavate in Ipswich for over 40 years. This was a period of considerable redevelopment which would have destroyed all the archaeological evidence if we had not excavated beforehand.

“My hope is that this book will make the early importance of Ipswich more widely known and for it to help inform future local exhibitions and displays.

“I’d love to see it provide a source of interest for many years to come - not just for its residents but for the wider academic community interested in the origin of our English towns.”

The book describes how Ipswich (Gipeswic) was operating as a landing place for continental visitors by sea in the 7th century and as a permanent town from the early 8th century.

Throughout the Anglo-Saxon period its primary function was as a port, importing wine and mill stones from northern France, Belgium and the Rhineland, but it was also a major craft production centre, dominated by pottery production.

It was also important during the Viking settlement of eastern England in the late 9th century. The Danish occupation was associated with an economic boom and the town was first surrounded with a bank and ditch.

Soon after the Norman Conquest, in 1066, the town was ravaged by the Conqueror, and many burnt-down houses have been excavated of late 11th century date. In some, the charred remains of their contents survived, including some bread rolls. However, the town soon recovered and a castle was built in the 12th century, which was demolished decades later. 

Councillor Debbie Richards, Suffolk County Council’s deputy cabinet member for Archaeology and Landscape Partnerships, said:

“This is a stunning publication and a unique look into Ipswich’s history. Keith’s passion for his work shines through, and I would be surprised if there is anyone more informed about the town’s past.

“I thank Keith for his commitment to the county council’s archaeological service through the decades. I’m delighted that his knowledge will live on in this book, and be a part of Ipswich’s future for the benefit of researchers and historians.”

The monograph is volume 184 in the journal East Anglian Archaeology. It is priced at £35 and is available from Script Books. It will also be available through Suffolk Community Libraries.