WHEN Ipswich photographer William Vick published a set of captioned photographic prints in 1890 of 'Ipswich Past and Present' he included a photograph of the museum in Museum Street.

WHEN Ipswich photographer William Vick published a set of captioned photographic prints in 1890 of 'Ipswich Past and Present' he included a photograph of the museum in Museum Street.

His caption in Victorian style tells us of when the museum was in the Town Hall. “Various thoughts will arise at this expression in old Ipswich minds. Prior to 1847 this was applicable to a long, dingily lighted, attic kind of place, high up near the clock in the Town Hall, approachable only by a long flight of narrow steps, accessible by a common key “off a nail” in the precincts below, and entered by a mean looking half glass door, in which the then stock of articles of virtue, of rarity, or otherwise deemed valuable, belonging to the Corporation, were exhibited.

In 1846, during the mayoralty of George Green Sampson Esq., an effort was made to improve upon the state of things, and a public meeting was held, and a project for establishing a museum set on foot, which resulted in the hiring, for a term of years, of a building in Museum Street; to this the then Corporation transferred all its treasures suitable for it; many valuable additions were kindly added by numerous donors; and the Rev Professor Henslow, whose fostering care was continually present, superintended the arrangements thereof; we have here given a view of the principal room in the building referred to.”