Streetlife

I dont ever recall it being where River Island is now, I think it was always in Carr St, opposite where Argos is, but I could be wrong? I loved the old fashioned look of it, and the unsteady escalators!! It sold everything, shame it had to go.

I worked at the old co-op store in carr street years ago .

Hi Jackie, where River Island is now is where Timothy Whites used to be (a branch of Boots?)  I can only remember the Co-op Store being in Carr Street.  I was born in the 60's - other great places that have gone now that I can remember are the Lyons Tea Rooms, Tavern Street, the Milk Gem Bar in Upper Brook Street, opposite the Buttermarket which was next to the Heidelburg Cafe and good old Footmans, I loved the big palemeno horse that you could ride on, I also remember the lift in the store operated by an elderly male attendant, he fascinated me as a little girl!  Also the Liptons which was in the store as well, they sold lovely cheese bread ... mmmm!  The town was lovely back then and had a lot more character!

The Co-op in Carr St was in two parts. If you were facing it from the Argos side of the street there used to be (maybe still is?) an old "iron cage" style lift in the part on the right of the lane leading to the car park. There was a door on the right going down the lane. You used to go up in the lift to the office to collect your "divi". I remember going there in the late 60's as a small child with my mum. It often got stuck and I was fearful of it. It was made from ornate looking wrought iron.

S F - I also remember the white horse ride. Do you remember the stuffed bird in a gold/brass/gilt cage that sang when you put a coin in? It was in the toy shop in Carr St, opposite the "new" Co-op supermarket food hall.

OnTwoWheels - I don't remember the stuffed bird in a cage I'm afraid, but I do remember the toy shop, I think it was called 'Prices', I can clearly remember having my face pressed up against the glass peering in at all the wonderful toys (which I knew I couldn't have!)  Ok ... memory lane here .... do you remember Keith Henry's shoe shop approximately where Argos is now?  They sold fantastic platform shoes back in the 70's, and also I remember the 'Fanny Clothing Company' - this was situated at the other end of town on the corner of Crown Street, I so wanted to go in there because it looked so cosmopolitan, but I was too young and my mother always steered me away from it - ha! ha!  Would love to see some photos of all these old shops!

More about the co op I went to st pancras in cox lane I started in 1936 I was nearly 5 years old The co op was our main shop. In 1939 we used it to get Horlick tablets they were not rationed so when we paid the money was put into a vacuum tube which went to the cash dept there was a barbers shop it was under ground next to the the beehive it's now a empty Chinese The co op has all ways been as It. now one large entity I think whillers. Was there the bird in the cage. The Rear of. The. Co op. Was Barclay street it. Was pulled down some were about1936 time my dad help to pulI.In those days you haD find a job or not eat but that never happen to us. Also in car st was the gas company Deeks the pork butchers now they were real banger or sausages. Then further along was then evening star please forgive my typing any body who is good at math can see I am no spring chicken

Sorry not Deeks but seagers

I only ever knew the River Island building as Boots, but yes I do remember Fanny Clothing...bought a pair of maroon loonpants from there in the 70's!

What about Chelsea Girl (where Body Shop now is)?  Aged 15 I bought my first (unaccompanied by mother) item of clothing from there.  Also, Edwards the place where we used to get school uniforms from before Grimwades.

Berni Inn in the Buttermarket; good old Footmans; Queens chinese restaurant in Northgate Street where I tasted my first chinese food; Woolworths with the wooden floors, counters and doors instead of aluminium;Brook Craft Market in Upper Brook Street and the Purple Shop when it first opened!!

There also used to be Corder's department store in the Buttermarket, The Albion House in St Matthew's Street, where you could buy curtain fabrics, bedding etc and the first Wimpey Bar was on the corner where Santander is now ! What a shame that St Matthews Baths had to go, happy days when it doubled as The Baths Hall, - a dance hall - we had some great nights there dancing to the jazz bands in the 60s, Acker BiIk, Kenny Ball, Johnny Dankworth. I saw Rod Stewart there, before he was famous he was known as Rod the Mod  and sang with Long John Baldry's Blues Band.

Not to mention Led Zeppalin!

Led Zep and Fleetwood Mac and I think I paid around a £1

Can any of you remember upstairs above Fanny's there was a fabulous shoe shop called Nutters? I still have a lovely pair of platform boots that I bought from there...they have survived my childrens dressing up etc

I had some great platform boots and shoes that I bought there too, the boots came up over my knees, and a fabulous maxi dress from Fanny's. I loved the mini skirt, but wearing a maxi had a special feel about it back then !
We always went to Dorothy Perkins for patterned tights, sometimes Etam, they were both small shops then and only sold lingerie.

I think I'm right in saying there was also a gents boutique called Sir Bastian next door they used to sell some brilliant gear .Happy days !

Thats right

Does anyone know the history of the building that is currently a cheap furniture shop on Carr Street? It used to be The Cusp some years ago. I worked there when it was The Cusp and it is such a run down, out of place little building and I was wondering what it was used for.

I think it was a butchers

yes they was a butcher at the car street

Do remember when.....H&M was British Home stores....Brook Craft Market in Upper Brook Street...Northcotes (I think) in Tacket Street where the scandinavian shop now is.

The Craft Market in Upper Brook Street was previously also known as The Doll's Hospital !! When I was a child dolls were breakable and often in need of a new arm or leg, or the open and close eyes would go a bit out of kilter. New hair was sometimes needed too. Then vinyl arrived !
At least Brook Craft Market appears to be thriving down in St Lawrence Street. Does anyone remember that tiny little button shop that used to be down St Stephen's Lane where the entrance to Butter Market Precinct is now ? I used to love going in there, they had every sort of button and you could always find something that was just right.

I can remember The Dolls Hospital Madge, seems quite bizaar to think we had something that specialised and where you could take your dolly to be fixed, I also remember the lovely little button shop which disappeared with the arrival of the Buttermarket Centre.  Can you remember the wool shop in The Wash, the windows were stacked from floor to ceiling with wool, more people knitted their own woolies back then.  Some of the shops I remember - Silbrooks Jewellers in Lloyds Avenue, Purdy's Cafe in Westgate Street, where Burger King is now, Noble Romans Pizza Cafe in The Walk, The Basket Shop in the Walk where Holland and Barrett are now,  Spoils Kitchen Shop in St.Matthews Street, House of Holland on Majors Corner, Marnos Vegetarian Cafe in St Nicholas Street, Ridleys Gentlemans Outfitters (they had a lovely coffee shop on the lower floor) in Tavern Street and the wonderful bar in the Great White Horse Hotel with the courtyard, I have some pictures of myself sitting in one of their comfy settees, real Dickensian surroundings. 

oh yes what a thriving individual town we had, noble romans was great watching the pizzas being cooked there in the stone oven , none of the pizzerias are as good as that was. Also i loved the brook craft market shop in the old dolls hospital shop when i was a teenager for allsorts of nik naks and gifts. We still support the little tea shops and cafes in the town centre i wouldn't be seen partaking refreshments in one of those unmentionable overpriced chain shops!!

I remember the Milk Bar near the Bus Station and used to frequent it often especially when the Ganges were in town! I went to the Dances at the Ganges too.  The buses were arranged from the Odeon and us girls got on there for a night out in Shotley and boy what a night out!!.  The Ten Pin Bowling Alley was super fabulous and I had many a night there bowling and enjoyed the atmosphere.  Funnily enough there was a stool that anyone who sat on it would get pregnant in the bowling alley, guess what? I got pregnant and sat on it.  A lovely lady called Mary worked behind the bar there and we often had a chat when I wanted a break.

The dogs track was there also and it was just a great time.  Sadly times have changed and of course that is the way the world goes but sometimes just sometimes I wish I could step back in time and go to the places I have been before but they are not there.  I worked for Woolworths as I did the Co-Op in Carr Street and also a Suede Coat Shop. I too frequent the Great White Horse Hotel Bar many a time and also Bernies for a wonderful Burger meal and an Irish Coffee.  I remember the Blue Coat Boy Public House too.  I used to work in the evenings at Traceys Nightclub and loved it.

Goodness me how times have changed and how Ipswich has changed too.  Does anyone else remember the places I have mentioned especially the pubs.

Christine - I remember Bernies in the Buttermarket, I used to go there with my parents for steak and chips, later on when I was 18, it became Dukes, a great place to see bands after the pub shut, which for me was the Vaultz on the Cornhill, the two bands that always played there were Cruiser and Pete Croft Blues Band, such great nights, there weren't many nightclubs about then, I can remember Traceys and the First Floor Club, but never went to either.