Celebrating Ipswich’s port heritage with new artwork—and community pride

From the Ipswich.love team: We’re proud to support local artists and community stories that celebrate Ipswich—its waterfront, its history, and the people who keep our town connected to the wider world.

This summer, the story of Ipswich as a port town—built over hundreds of years of trade, friendship and shared waterways—will be celebrated internationally at HANSEartWorks, an art festival in Stargard, Poland.

The modern Hanseatic League is shining a light on the international trade and friendships that date back to the 13th–15th centuries—and the network has recently been revived to reconnect historic towns and cities today.  Two of the most important Hanseatic ports in England—Ipswich and King’s Lynn—will each be represented with new artwork at the festival in June. This year’s exhibition theme is The Power of Water.  In tis image, Stephen Cassidy (Chair of Ipswich Art Society) invited members to create a new piece that captures our waterfront and the working life of the port.

A view of the lower port looking across to Cliff Quay, painted by Stephen Patterson, was selected by a panel of artists. Stephen plans to attend the conference in Poland and exhibit the work in person.

The Port of Ipswich remains a major international trade port today. John Warren of Ipswich Maritime Trust said its historic role is also an important element of Ipswich’s City of Culture ambitions.  Historians Pat and Stuart Grimwade said Ipswich was a “head port” in the Hanseatic League, playing a vital role in exporting Suffolk wool and cloth—trade that brought wealth to towns such as Lavenham and Sudbury.  At its peak, the League included around 200 ports and cities across Europe, reaching as far as Bergen and Tallinn.

Today, Ipswich is part of the new Hanseatic League and is also recognised as a Historic Harbour port.  Hanse Ipswich even had its own “stock exchange”, known as a steelyard (from the German stalhof or kontor), where goods were stored and exchanged. It was an international trading organisation built on promises and trust—values that still resonate in a town shaped by the river.  The steelyard was probably located around the Foundation Street/Blackfriars area, only a short distance from the quaysides and warehouses.

Ipswich and King’s Lynn are the only UK towns represented in the international art exhibition, alongside 18 artworks from across the Hanseatic network.  The Hanseatic League International Celebration takes place from 11–14 June in Stargard, a port city on a river estuary—much like Ipswich. Stargard has been a trading centre since the 8th century and is among the oldest cities in Poland.  Phillip Eke, from King’s Lynn, is the Hanse Commissioner for England.
He said: “Ipswich and King’s Lynn share a unique Hanseatic history which remains relevant, intriguing and full of opportunities to this day—for our communities and for local tourism.  “Rather than concentrating purely on the historical facts, the modern Hanseatic League can give your town a new lens—a fresh and vibrant lens—through which to see your own area.”

Local residents are also invited to an Ipswich Maritime Trust talk by Phillip Eke on Wednesday 7 October at 7.30pm, at the Methodist Church on Black Horse Lane, exploring the relevance of the Hanseatic League today.
Ipswich.love: If you have your own memories, photos or stories of the waterfront and the port, we’d love you to share them and help celebrate what makes Ipswich special—past, present and future.

Article submitted to Ipswich.love by David Vincent

This and other events at Museum Street Methodist Church and those from Ipswich Maritime Trust  are posted to our events guide here:

Museum Street Methodist Church

18 Museum Street Ipswich IP1 1HT

Museum Street Methodist Church is a town centre Christian Church in Ipswich, committed to enriching individual lives and the wellbeing of the community. The main entrance to the church is on Black Horse Lane.

Events with Museum Street Methodist Church

• Welcome Wednesdays
  Wed 13th May 2026
• Welcome Wednesdays
  Wed 13th May 2026
• IMT – talk by Phillip Eke, Hanse Commissioner for England
  Wed 7th Oct 2026

Ipswich Maritime Trust

Key Street Ipswich IP4 1FF

We work to promote the maritime history of Ipswich and the River Orwell, through our Window Museum, research, lectures and local partnerships.

Events with Ipswich Maritime Trust

• IMT – talk by Phillip Eke, Hanse Commissioner for England
  Wed 7th Oct 2026

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Sam Sherman

Sam is a Co-Founder of Ipswich.love. Passionate about Ipswich, Sam looks to see how we might jointly reverse some of the recent negativity and bring some deserved positivity back to our beloved Town.