The town in England. An Act for paving, lighting, cleansing, and otherwise improving the town, and for removing and preventing encroachments, obstructions, and annoy ances therein, was obtained in the 33rd of George III, and was amended by four other acts of parliament obtained in 1797, 1815, 1821, and 1837. PAVING AND LIGHTING COMMISSIONERS appoint out of their body a managing committee of 24, who meet at the Town Hall on the first Friday of every month. For lighting and improving the streets, they levy rates on the inhabitants, so as not to amount yearly to more than 1s. 6d. in the pound on the assessed rental of the houses, nor more than 4d. on land. They are now considerably improving the sewerage of the town, and are re-paving and flagging many of the streets. They light 376 public lamps, though some of the back streets and lanes are still left in darkness. C. Burton, Esq., is chairman; Mr. S. B. Jackaman, clerk; and Mr. Geo. Mason, surveyor. WATER WORKS.-The supply of water to the town is chiefly derived from a considerable number of springs of pure water, which, after filtering through beds of gravel, sand, and crag, rises in copious jets on all sides of the town, and is in several places conducted to reservoirs, and thence by metallic pipes to the houses of the inhabitants. Though there is an abundance of water in the neighbourhood for the ample supply of all the inhabitants, the water works are greatly inadequate to the present wants of the town. The principal supply has for many years been from the Corporation Water Works, which were let for from £700 to £800 a year, and have their source from the copious springs near Cauldwell Hall, at an elevation of 60 feet above low water mark. There are eight smaller water works, in various parts of the town and suburbs, belonging to private proprietors who supply themselves and neighbours, some of them to the extent of from 200 to 600 houses. These water proprietors are St. Clement's Water Company, the Trustees of St. Margaret's Charity, and J. Cobbold, W. C. Fonnereau, R. D. Alexander, H. Leverett, and John Orford, Esqrs. Considering that the union of all these water works and sources under one com pany, is the only plan by which the town can ever obtain an ample supply of the pure beverage of nature, the Corporation in 1854 sold their works to the abovenamed gentlemen for about £21,000, and they (the purchasers) are now applying for an act of parliament to incorporate a New Water Works Company, with a large capital to be raised in small shares. They will be bound by their act to provide, for moderate charges, an ample continued supply of water at high pressure to all parts of the town. The GAS WORKS were constructed in 1820 and 1821, at the cost of £14,000, raised in £10 shares, and had then only two gasometers, holding together 30,000 cubic feet; but in 1844 two new gasometers were erected, which hold one 60,000 and the other 20,000 cubic feet. Larger gas holders are about to be erected, and the works, street pipes, &c., have been considerably enlarged and extended during the last ten years. The capital now expended by the Company is upwards of £30,000, and their charge to consumers is 5s. per 1000 cubic feet. They obtained a new act of parliament in 1847. A few years ago, when their paid-up capital was £22,750, and their charge 6s. per 1000 cubic feet, they divided a yearly profit of 7 per cent., and paid 15s. 3d. per ton for coals. Mr. E. Goddard is engineer and manager of the works. The TOWN HALL, on the Corn hill, was anciently the church of St. Mildred, and remained with little alteration till 1818, when the antique front, which had a staircase outside, was taken down, and a new one erected. At the same time, the interior underwent great altérations, but the basement story was left unfinished till 1841, when it was converted into a commodious Sessions' Hall, in which the Borough Quarter and Petty Sessions have been held since the demolition of the Old Shire Hall. A staircase from the right of the seat of justice leads to the Council Chamber, which was remodelled about 12 years ago out of the old apartment in a very handsome style, and is of noble dimensions, having room for more than 600 persons. Its walls are now decorated by some paintings, presented by the late Admiral Page, among which are fine portraits of himself. William and Mary, Charles II., and George I. The gallant Admiral also presented several interesting relics, one of which is the sword of Tippoo Saib, and a model of his own ship. Over the entrance is the ancient ducking stool, as noticed at page 67. The Police Station is in the Town Hall, and on the ground level is a range of strong cells. The upper story is appropriated to the use of the Ipswich Literary Institution. The BOROUGH GOAL, in Rope lane, was originally a house of correction belonging to the county, but was purchased and altered for its present use about sixty years ago at the cost of nearly £3000, including the purchase of the land which extends beyond the boundary walls, and adjoins those of the County Gaol. By alterations made about 20 years ago, pursuant to the recommendations of the government commissioner for inspecting prisons, it has been rendered as safe and convenient as its confined space will allow. It is encircled by a brick wall forming an irregular hexagon. On each side of the entrance are two stacks of buildings appropriated to debtors and persons convicted of misdemeanors. The governor's house is in the centre. The debtors' ward has accommodations for nine, and in the other two wards are 24 cells for felons and misdemeanants. Mr. J. R. Tunmer is governor; Rev. J. Duningham, chaplain; Mr. C. C. Hammond, surgeon; Hy. Everson, turnkey; and S. B. Pettit, schoolmaster. Ipswich MUNICIPAL CORPORATION, with its charters, privileges, &c., are already noticed at pages 54 to 59. Quarter Sessions are held for the borough four times a year; and Petty Sessions every Monday and Thursday. The Borough Court of Small Pleas is about to be abolished, and is now but seldom used, it being more than twenty times as expensive as the County Court, now held here. In an action lately tried in the Court of Small Pleas, for the recovery of £2. 7s., the costs amounted to about £40. Owing to their having recently built a New Grammar School, &c., and to their having borrowed and paid large sums on that account, the Receipts and Expenditure of the Corporation have been much larger than usual during the last three years. In the year ending Sept. 1st, 1-53, their Receipts amounted to £11,340, including the following items:-Rents of Estates, Markets and Waterworks, £2094; Coal dues, £742; Borough rates, £2444; Interest from Railway Company, £159; Loans for Grammar School, &c., £3975, and Sale of old Grammar School premises, £1149. Their Expenditure in the same year amounted to £10,957, and included the following items: -Salaries to Officers, £586; Compensation to late Gaoler, £40; Building New Grammar School House, £4366; Police Constables, £1453; Maintenance of Prisoners and Salaries of Officers at Gaol, £5; to Grammar School, £380; and Interest of Debts, £581. As already noticed, they sold the Water Works, in 1854, for £21,500. A borough rate of one halfpenny in the pound is now levied, yearly, towards the support of the Museum, on condition of its being open D gratuitously to the burgesses. The Members of Parliament for the borough are noticed at page 59, and the following is a list of the TOWN COUNCIL, BOROUGH MAGISTRATES, and PUBLIC OFFICERS, for the year 1853-4: MAYOR, Charles Foote Gower, Esq. Recorder, David Power, Esq. | High Steward, Charles Austin, Esq. ALDERMEN. P. B. Long, Esq. COUNCILLORS. Geo. Josselyn, Esq. (The figures show the years when each goes out of office.) "St. Clement's Ward. 1854 G. Christopherson. 1854 R. R. Wood. 1855 T. B. Ross. 1855 J. Cobbold. 1855 H. E. Tunmer. 1856 G. Seagrave. 1856 W. Hutchinson. 1854 W. H. Alexander. 1855 C. F. Gower. 1855 H. Wallis. 1856 A. Bowman. 1856 R. Burrows, jun. 1854 John Orford. 1855 C. Ashford. 1854 J. L. Ensor. The Mayor and Ex-Mayor. Robt. Burrell, Esq. Henry Miller, Esq. Town Clerk and Clerk of the Peace, S. A. Notcutt, Esq. Clerk to the Magistrates, E. Lawrance, Esq. Coroner, S. B. Jackaman, Esq. | Treasurer, J. B. Alexander, Esq. Surveyor, Samuel Baldiston. || Crier, James Nunn. Town Sergeants, T. Robinson and G. Baxter. The BOROUGH POLICE consists of W. C. Mason, superintendent; S. Carver, F. Mason, and C. Smith, sergeants; and 8 day policemen, and 17 night watchmen. TRUSTEES OF BOROUGH CHARITIES. H. Adrich, Esq. W. Rodwell, Esq. M. Turner, Esq. J. E. Sparrowe. Esq. Clerk to the Trustees, S. A. Notcutt, Esq. The UNION OFFICERS are inserted at page 54; the Dock and CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICERS, &c., at page 67; and the Paving and Lighting Commission, at page 72. The COUNTY MAGISTRATES hold Petty Sessions at the County Courts, every Tuesday, and Mr. E. Lawrance is their clerk. The County Magistrates most usual in attendance here, are Robt. Burrell, Henry Phillipps, W. F. Schreiber, W. Rodwell, J. C. Cobbold, and J. H. L. Anstruther, Esqrs.; the Rev. T. Mills, the Rev. C. B. Elliott, and Dr. Chevallier. HISTORY OF IPSWICH. The COUNTY COURT, for the recovery of debts to the amount of £50, is now held here monthly, in the building called the "County Courts," for a district comprising Ipswich Borough and Union; 25 parishes in Bosmere and Claydon Union, and 21 parishes in Samford Union. F. K. Eagle, Esq., of Bury, is judge; Jonth. Townley, Esq., of Norwich, treasurer; C. Pretyman, of Silent street, Ipswich, clerk; G. H. Blake, high bailiff; and G. R. Utting and H. Lowden, bailiffs. COUNTY COURTS AND PRISON. The COUNTY COURTS were erected in 1836-7, in front of the County Gaol, in lieu of the old Shire Hall, which had become dilapidated, and was used both by the county and the borough, but was taken down some years ago. These Courts form a handsome building, in the Tudor style, 250 feet long, and 50 feet broad, erected of white brick, with stone dressings, at the cost of £6149. The front has four towers. In the centre is the chief entrance to the prison, and in the wings are the Criminal and Nisi-Prius Courts, each about 45 feet long, 30 broad, and 20 high. Attached are commodious rooms for the magistrates, grand jury, counsel, witnesses, &c. The Suffolk Assizes were both held at Bury St. Edmund's, till 1839, since which year the Summer Assize has been held here, in satisfaction of the long-reiterated complaints of the inhabitants of the eastern and most populous part of the county. Quarter Sessions for the county are held here in the usual Session weeks, in January, April, June, and October; and Petty Sessions every Tuesday. During the assizes, the commodious mansion of J. B. Alexander, Esq., in Northgate street, is occupied as the The COUNTY GAOL and HOUSE OF CORRECTION Judges' lodgings. were erected in 1790, on the plan of the celebrated Mr. Howard, and consisted originally of a central building and four radiating wings, to which four other ranges of buildings have been added. The outer wall, built in a sunken fosse, is crowned by an iron chevaux de frise, and encloses an area 260 feet square, which was anciently a burial ground. On March 11th, 1854, there were in the gaol four debtors, and in the House of Correction 94 male and 10 female prisoners. The total number in 1853, was 18 debtors, and 100 male and 13 female felons and misdemeanants. The Rev. J. E. Daniel is chaplain; Mr. John and Mrs. Alloway, governor and matron; Mr. A. H. Bartlett, surgeon; Louis A. Hill and Eliza Avis, turnkeys; D. S. Cork, schoolmaster; and Wm. Pooley, lodgekeeper. Mr. Cphr. Jackson is keeper of the courts, and also inspector of weights and measures. CHURCHES AND PARISHES. Domesday Book only enumerates nine churches, as standing in Ipswich and its liberty, viz., Holy Trinity, St. Austin, St. Michael, St. Mary, St. Lawrence, St. Peter, St. Stephen, and those at Whitton and Thurlston. The three first-named are supposed to have been destroyed in a dreadful tempest, on New Year's-day, 1287, when Stowe informs us many other churches and buildings were beaten down by the jarring elements, at Yarmouth, Dunwich, &c D 2 At a later period, it is said here were no fewer than 21 churches, but no doubt this number included those that were attached to the monastic institutions, (see page 59,) and were not parochial. There are now twelve parish churches, and a chapel of ease in the town ; and the two churches of Whitton and Westerfield parishes are within the liberty of the borough. They are mostly ancient fabrics, which have undergone many repairs, and some of them considerable alterations. The 13 churches in the town have only about 8500 sittings, of which 900 are in St. Clement's and about 800 each in St. Matthew's, St. Mary le Tower, St. Margaret's, St. Peter's, and Holy Trinity. The other churches vary from 300 to 600 sittings. Fifteen chapels in the town have about 10,000 sittings. Only nine of the 13 churches in the town have Parsonage Houses belonging to the benefices; viz., St. Clement's, St. Margaret's, St. Matthew's, St. Stephen's, St. Mary Stoke, St. Mary at Quay, St. Mary le Tower, St. Peter's, and Holy Trinity. ST. CLEMENT'S CHURCH, erected about 1500, is a plain structure, consisting of a nave, two spacious side-aisles, and a fine tower, in which are a good clock and six musical bells. A few years ago, the interior was re-seated, and the exterior flinted and thoroughly repaired. Among the monuments in the interior is one to the memory of Thomas Eldred, who accompanied Cavendish in his circumnavigation of the globe, during the years 1586, '7, and '8. The benefice is a rectory, consolidated with that of St. Helen's, and now valued at £326 per annum. In monastic times, it was appropriated to the Priory of St. Peter. The executors of the late Rev. J. T. Nottidge are patrons, and the Rev. W. W. Woodhouse, M.A., is the incumbent, and has a good Rectory House. The Revs. E. J. Lowe and H. T. Cavell are the curates; Mr. Rt. Cade, clerk; J. Parker, sexton; and W. Lloyd, organist. The PARISH of St. Clement's includes a large portion of the town, and about 1209 acres of land, extending more than two miles southward along the east bank of the Orwell. It increased its population from 2424 souls, in 1801, to 7025 in 1851, including Fore Hamlet, Back Hamlet, and WykesBishop Hamlet, which are now connected parts of the town. Within its limits is Warren House, which is extra parochial, and is now divided into six tenements, belonging to Sir P. V. Broke, who owns a great part of the freehold land in the parish. The copyhold lands are held of the manor of Wykes-Bishop, of which John Cobbold, Esq., is lord and principal owner. Richard I. gave this manor to John Oxenford, bishop of Norwich, and the succeeding bishops held it till 1535, and frequently resided here, in a house near the Nacton road, of which nothing now remains. Part of the manor of Wukes-Ufford extends into this parish, but it is mostly in Westerfield and Rushmere. This manor belonged to the Ufford family, Earls of Suffolk, from whom it descended to the Lords Willoughby d'Eresby, ancestors of Robert Burrell, Esq., of Stoke Park; but since the reign of Elizabeth, it has belonged to the owners of Christchurch estate. There was anciently a chapel dedicated to St. James, at Wykes, but all vestiges of it are gone. TRINITY CHURCH, situated in that now populous part of St Clement's |