The Cornhill
Public square
The town square in 2020
The town square in 2020
SurfaceStone & Concrete
LocationIpswich, Suffolk
Coordinates: 52°03′28″N 1°09′10″E / 52.0579°N 1.1527°E / 52.0579; 1.1527

The Cornhill in Ipswich is a historic town square in the centre of Ipswich, Suffolk. The square has been a gathering place for many centuries in the town, the earliest recorded event was the execution of the Ipswich Martyrs in the 16th century. In the present-day, the Cornhill hosts various events such as Christmas markets, live music shows, and outdoor screenings of notable broadcasts, such as the proms. The square is surrounded by grand Victorian buildings built as the town's wealth was booming from sheep wool and dock trade. The prominent Ipswich Town Hall building is located on the Cornhill.

History

The Cornhill can be seen on Ipswich's earliest map. John Speed's 1610 map labeled the square as number 8 and is referred to as "Corne hill"

The Cornhill has always been an important area throughout the town's history. It was the location of St Mildred's Church which was later used as an administrative centre.


During the religious turmoil of the sixteenth century, the Cornhill was site of the execution of the Ipswich Martyrs, nine people were persecuted for their Lollard or Protestant beliefs around 1515–1558. A memorial for the martyrs was erected in Christchurch Park in 1903. The monument has a square, stone base that bears a testament to the martyrs on the front, and lists their names on the other three sides.

In 1818 William Cubitt connected a gas supply emanating from Ransome and Sons coke plant in Old Foundry Street to Cornhill, thereby introducing gas lighting to the square.

In 1980's the Cornhill was pedestrianised into a town square after being used as a busy road throughout the town for decades.

Cabman's Shelter, created in 1892, was made to provide a dry, warm space for drivers of horse-drawn cabs in the centre of Ipswich. It was moved from the Cornhill, to Christchurch Park in 1895. Damaged by fire in 1995, it was restored in 2006.

2018 Redevelopment

In 2012, Lord Stuart Rose criticised the town square, describing it as a "barren wasteland" and "the most depressing place I have ever seen". His comments led to a £3.6 million redevelopment of the square,[1][2] in 2018 work commenced to replace the pavement, add a water fountain feature, and add four stone "gateway" arches.[3][4][5] The new square was criticised by locals and a petition against the cost and design was signed by over 4000 people.[6] A few months after the new square was opened, a fatal incident on the square's steps brought many questions about the safety of the new square.[7] The council responded by commissioning remedial work to improve the safety of the squares steps, and by removing the gateway arches which were widely disliked.[8][9] The redevelopment was completed in 2020, two years after the construction work first commenced.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Rimmer, Judy. "Town-centre bosses delighted as Lord Stuart Rose praises £3.6m Cornhill new look". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  2. ↑ "Pret A Manger pulls plug on town store". 29 January 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  3. ↑ "'Wow factor' in £3.6m town square revamp". 2 November 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2019.
  4. ↑ "Work begins on £3.5m revamp for Ipswich's Cornhill". ITV News.
  5. ↑ Geater, Paul. "Ipswich Cornhill to host a year of events - but will the work ever be finished?". Ipswich Star.
  6. ↑ Geater, Paul. "Cornhill petition too late to stop work – Ipswich council leader Ellesmere". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Man dies after fall at Ipswich Cornhill". BBC News. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  8. ↑ Geater, Paul. "Final safety work starts on Ipswich Cornhill after report following tragedy". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  9. ↑ "Ipswich 'Cornhenge' sculpture is taken down". BBC. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Geater, Paul. "Ipswich Cornhill safety work finished – as the fountains go back on". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
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