Celebrating 25 years of Ipswich Charter Hangings

In June 2025, a celebratory event at St Peter’s by the Waterfront Arts and Heritage Centre brought together people who had contributed to the creation of the Charter Hangings, those who had sponsored and supported the work, and others involved in their promotion.

Mike Motteram, the newly elected chair of Ipswich Arts Association, explained how Isabel Clover, a lecturer at (then) Suffolk College and known nationally for her ecclesiastical designs and embroidery, had been commissioned to create an embroidered hanging.

Isabel then spoke about their creation and some of the challenges faced in designing and creating the Hangings. She set out to give an overall feel for each historical period, but she also wanted to illustrate as much of the life and activities of the town as she could. In the panels, you’ll find the Ransome’s lawn mower, the Ancient House, and a corporation trolley bus on the Cornhill. “The whole process was a giant jigsaw puzzle,” concluded Isabel.

The audience was also treated to a dramatic reading of the Charter, allowing Ipswich the freedom to trade, by Brian Theodore Ralph.

Finally, Roger Burke from the Ipswich Rotary Club in Massachusetts shared some entertaining anecdotes about how Rotary clubs in both countries arranged for the hangings to travel to America.

The Ipswich Charter Hangings can be viewed at St Peter’s Arts and Heritage Centre (stpetersbythewaterfront.com) until the end of September on Tuesdays, 10am-4pm; Wednesdays, 12pm-2pm & Thursdays, 10am-4pm. And from 1st October on Wednesdays from 12pm-2pm.