The Cornhill, Ipswich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Cornhill
Public square
The town square in 2020
Surface:	Stone & Concrete
Location:	Ipswich, Suffolk

The Cornhill is a famous town square in the heart of Ipswich, Suffolk. It has been a meeting place for hundreds of years. One of the earliest known events was when people called the Ipswich Martyrs faced difficulties for their religious beliefs in the 1500s.

Today, The Cornhill is a lively spot for many events like Christmas markets, live music, and outdoor movie nights or concerts such as the Proms. It's surrounded by beautiful old buildings from the Victorian era, built when Ipswich was growing rich from wool and its busy docks. The important Ipswich Town Hall building stands right on The Cornhill.

History of The Cornhill

The Cornhill can be seen on Ipswich's earliest map. John Speed's 1610 map labeled the square as number 8 and called it "Corne hill."

The Cornhill has always been a very important place in Ipswich's history. One of the earliest recorded events here was when the Ipswich Martyrs faced difficulties for their Lollard or Protestant beliefs between 1515 and 1558. A special monument for these martyrs was put up in Christchurch Park in 1903. It has a stone base that tells their story and lists their names.

In 1818, William Cubitt helped bring gas lighting to The Cornhill. This made the square much brighter at night.

For many years, The Cornhill was a busy road. But in the 1980s, it was changed into a pedestrian town square, meaning only people could walk there, not cars.

The Cabman's Shelter was built in 1892. It was a warm, dry place for drivers of horse-drawn cabs in the center of Ipswich. In 1895, it was moved from The Cornhill to Christchurch Park. After being damaged by fire in 1995, it was fixed up in 2006.

Images for kids

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  The grand Georgian building housing Lloyds Bank

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  Cabman's Shelter, built for drivers of horse-drawn cabs in the square, now located in Christchurch Park.

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  The Cornhill in 1865