Whether it’s football wins, the changing face of the shops or even the construction of the Orwell Bridge, here are five moments that shaped our town.
FA Cup Final victory
Fans on the Cornhill in 1978 after Ipswich won the FA Cup in the Wembley final against Arsenal (Image: Newsquest)
For many, nothing compares to the day Ipswich Town F.C. lifted the 1978 FA Cup Final.
Under legendary manager Bobby Robson, Ipswich stunned favourites Arsenal F.C. with a 1–0 victory at Wembley Stadium thanks to a goal from Roger Osborne.
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The win sparked huge celebrations back home at Portman Road Stadium and across the town centre.
Even today, supporters still talk about where they were when Ipswich lifted the famous trophy.
Orwell Bridge built
The road run across the Orwell Bridge before it was open to traffic (Image: Newsquest)
When the Orwell Bridge opened in 1982, it transformed travel around the town.
The bridge carries the A14 across the River Orwell and created a bypass that dramatically reduced congestion in the town centre.
To this day, it’s a sign you’re close to home when you go over the bridge.
Now, it is one of the most recognisable landmarks on the Ipswich skyline and a crucial route for freight travelling to and from the Port of Felixstowe.
University of Suffolk opening
University of Suffolk (Image: Sarah Lucy Brown)
Another major turning point for Ipswich came with the creation of the University of Suffolk.
Originally established as University Campus Suffolk in 2007, it gained full university status in 2016.
The arrival of a university brought thousands of students into the town, helping transform the atmosphere around Ipswich Waterfront and boosting the local economy.
From encouraging nightlife into the town long after Ipswich’s clubbing heyday in the 1990s to improving the potential on the waterfront with businesses like Cult Café, the university was a massive turning point.
Cardinal Park created
Liquid nightclub (Image: Newsquest)
The opening of Cardinal Park in 1999 brought a new entertainment destination to the town.
Built on former docklands land near Ipswich Waterfront, the complex introduced a cinema, restaurants and bowling, helping revitalise the area and giving people a new place to socialise.
Now the complex features loved eateries, a gym and Cineworld.
The Buttermarket redevelopment
The Buttermarket Shopping Centre and Ipswich have changed a lot since the 1990s (Image: Lucy Taylor)
The redevelopment of the Buttermarket Centre in the late 2010s marked a major effort to revive the town centre.
The project added a large cinema complex, restaurants and leisure venues, transforming the former shopping centre into a new entertainment hub for the town.