Welcome to the online guestbook for The Ipswich Society, running alongside our website.

If you've got a comment to make about the appearance, character or well-being of Ipswich, particularly with regard to buildings old and new, please leave a message.

Both members and non-members are more than welcome to contribute to the discussion, so please go ahead - thanks.

I am the Great Nephew of the renowned Dr.John Ellor Taylor who was Curator of Ipswich Museum from 1872 to 1893, and the author of many natural history books. I would very much appreciate hearing from any of his family - I understand he had three of four daughters. I live in Zimbabwe having left England in 1953. I can be contacted at P.O. Box 117, BANKET, ZIMBABWE, AFRICA. and email dendy_mactoodle@yahoo.co.uk

I am the Great Nephew of the renowned Dr.John Ellor Taylor who was Curator of Ipswich Museum from 1872 to 1893, and the author of many natural history books. I would very much appreciate hearing from any of his family - I understand he had three of four daughters. I live in Zimbabwe having left England in 1953. I can be contacted at P.O. Box 117, BANKET, ZIMBABWE, AFRICA. and email dendy_mactoodle@yahoo.co.uk, also 347329@ecoweb.co.zw

I believe I may join the Ipswich Society. I am often bemused as to why so many of what is left of the Town's old buildings appear to be left to crumble. Perhaps it's time to stop being bemused and to try and find out. It's sad that the Town has lost so many of it's buildings of character. Especially in the 60's when concrete was the fashion. I remember Greyfriars with a shudder. Thanks

Auriol - we'd be delighted to have you as a member. I believe that the newsletter alone is easily worth the subscription price. Full details of how to join are on the website here:

http://www.ipswichsociety.org.uk/membership

Hello, I am researching the origins, exponents and output of anastatic printing. The process was promoted in England from the 1840s. It was utilised by Cowell's Anastatic Press, Ipswich, for over 40 years. Many of the titles they published are obscure and as few libraries catalogue the process they are not easy to identify. I have been inspecting possible works at the British Library and elsewhere.
Any leads your members may be able to give me would be much appreciated.
Edward Law, lawe@eircom.net

Regarding Dr.John Ellor Taylor, Curator of Ipswich Museum for a period until 1895, I am his Great Nephew,now 70 years of age, and I understand he had three daughters.
I have recently managed to trace his late nephew, William Ellor Taylor, (who died in Rhodesia in 1937) and William's only child, Phyllis. Phyllis lives in Vryheid, South Africa, and will be 90 in November. I was able to meet her last year.
I should be most grateful for any information on Dr.Taylor's daughters and their families. If anyone knows of any connection please contact me by email dendy_mactoodle@yahoo.co.uk or 347329@ecoweb.co.zw

I was recently given a copy of The Ipswich Society Newsletter for October 2002 (issue 149) and read, with interest, an article on page 18 on the Whitfield King Company written by Ruth Serjeant. I was born in Ipswich in 1932 and, in my early teens used to visit WK's office in Lacey Street. I have a good collection of Whitfield King memorabilia - mostly obtained in Canada and the United States - including wholesale catalogues dating back to the 1880's.I would be interested in hearing from anyone who worked at this stamp firm, or who has any photographs of WK interest. (I have had some correspondence with a lady, now living in Felixstowe who was employed there during the Second World War.)
I have been living in Ontario,Canada for the past 49 years and last visited Ipswich two and a half years ago.
Alan Capon, Picton, Ontario alcapon@kos.net

Edited by author 08-05-2006 02:33 PM
My parents moved to Ipswich when I was a toddler and I went to school there.
I worked for Cowells when I first left school I married and lived on Maidenhall estate in a council house. We had three children there and then decided to emigrate to Canada. We have never been back to Ipswich and are now retired on Vancouver Island British Columbia. I enjoy looking at the website and remembering such things as The Mansion house and Christchurch Park. At 76 I think that our generation have seen a great many changes in the world not all for the good but we have had many more experiences than our parents had and that they would not have thought possible.Anyone out there who rememers me as SHEILA COLES?

Anyone remember me as Sheila Coles who married Harry Oakes in 1948 when he was in the Royal Air Force at Martlesham Heath?

Greetings from Australia!!

I am very interested in this area of the UK as my husband's mother was a Cobbold and I believe that Chrischurch Manor was given to Ipswich by Felix Cobbold. We came to the UK in August 2003 and visited Suffolk, Wortham, Rattlesden and Little Genham.

Any information on the family would be very gratefully received.