The Museum Beginnings

It still puzzles some people that Ipswich Museum is not in Museum Street. The reason is, of course, that the original Museum was indeed in this street when it first opened in 1847. However, it moved to High Street in 1881 when it outgrew its original premises. The original museum building was for many years the Arlington ballroom and it is now a restaurant of the same name.

Ipswich Museum is one of the earliest public museums. Its patron was Prince Albert, who visited in 1851 when he opened the new Ipswich Grammar School. He also visited Mr Fonnereau’s interesting old house, Christchurch Mansion.

The Rev Wm Kirby was the first President of the Museum from 1847 – 1850. He was an eminent entomologist and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He was born in Witnesham and was the rector of Barham for 68 years. The Chairman was the Bishop of Norwich, Edward Stanley. The Rev Kirby had long wished to open a public museum, but by the time his wish was fulfilled, he was a frail old man. Nevertheless, he was able to make a short speech at the official opening, which was answered by Bishop Stanley, who wished him, “.. happiness in the eternal state to which you are approaching, happy in having done your duty.” Rev Kirby actually outlived the Bishop by a year!

John Stevens Henslow succeeded Rev Kirby as President in 1850. Henslow was a botanist and geologist. In the summer of 1831, Henslow was offered a place as naturalist to sail aboard the survey ship HMS Beagle on a two year expedition. However, his wife dissuaded him from accepting, so he recommended his protégé, Charles Darwin, to the ship’s captain, Robert Fitzroy. So, it was Darwin who joined the expedition team and who went on to write his books about the voyage and “On the Origin of the Species.” Within the Museum’s collection is a letter written by Darwin to his old mentor, Henslow.

It proved impossible to make the Museum financially viable, so in 1853 it was adopted by Ipswich Corporation and was made more accessible to the general public for educational purposes. This included free admission on certain days. The Curator was not altogether pleased with this arrangement, complaining that, “a vile and disorderly mob contaminates our room on public nights with their obscene conversations [and] indelicate and blasphemous retorts.” Apparently they also ate oranges and left peel around the place, too.

The Museum is currently closed for complete refurbishment and we hope it will be reopened later this year – although vile and disorderly mobs are of course discouraged!

The Friends of the Ipswich Museums is a charity dedicated to supporting Ipswich Museum, Christchurch Mansion and the Art School Gallery with funding for acquisitions, conservation and exhibitions.  If you would like to become a member, an application for membership can be found on the website www.foim.org.uk or at any of our Museums. FoIM arranges talks, outings and private viewings to help raise funds, so if you care about your Museums, why not join us and help support them.  If you would like to arrange a guided tour of the Mansion and find out about the collections and the families who once lived there, visit our FoIM website or tel 01473 433554.

Who wrote this about Ipswich?

Erica Burrows

Erica is Vice President of FOIM responsible for Guides/Tours