Rope making yarn at the Waterfront

Published: 9:17 PM June 25, 2002 Updated: 7:19 PM February 17, 2021

EVERYONE in Ipswich has undoubtedly heard of Rope Walk, yet it is years since there has been any rope-making in the town. But at the weekend there is a chance to see what actually happened on the Ropewalk.

EVERYONE in Ipswich has undoubtedly heard of Rope Walk, yet it is years since there has been any rope-making in the town.

But at the weekend there is a chance to see what actually happened on the Ropewalk.

Outside the Old Custom House there will be a demonstration of rope-making on Saturday afternoon and all day on Sunday.

It will be an opportunity to see the yarns being turned into strands, and those strands then turned into a rope as the rope-maker walks back and forth on his "walk".

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Inside the Waterfront Centre on the ground floor of the Old Custom House, the Ipswich Maritime Trust will be putting on an exhibition Sailing Ships at Ipswich 1900-1939 the end of an era.

This exhibition will show the collection of ship models on loan from Ipswich Borough Council Museums and Galleries, and the six giant reproductions of paintings of the Port of Ipswich that the Trust has lent the Waterfront Centre.

The exhibition is free and will be open from 10am – 5pm both days and coincides with the visit to Ipswich Wet Dock of the Old Gaffers, those wonderful traditionally rigged vessels that add so much character to this part of the country.

For more information contact Des Pawson, chairman of the Ipswich Maritime Trust, 01473 690090 or knots@footrope.fsnet.co.uk