A History of a Suffolk Canal
Stowupland Local History Group are indebted to Ena Carter for the records she kept of her research into so much of Suffolk history, and her family for not destroying them. She was not only able to access many original documents held in various locations but she also cut out and kept numerous press cuttings. Her records have all helped to form a strong foundation for contemporary research and ‘avoided having to reinvent the wheel’.
An overview of the relevance of the Stowmarket Navigation to the history of Stowupland and be read by going to The River Gipping.
At the then Ipswich Record Office Ena found: ‘1818 schedule of owners of lands along the R.Gipping & plan of ‘projected’ canal or Navigable communication from Stowmarket to Brockford “rising 95 feet with 8 locks (with canal cut from Mendlesham watershed to Norwich Road at Brockford) – surveyed by J.Hadden’.
{Ena added – with idea of eventually connecting with R.Waveney via R.Dove which runs behind site of Brockford maltings.}
Over the last decades groups of volunteers have worked hard to stop the River Gipping and its locks becoming a dangerous derelict eyesore. Instead hoping to unlock its heritage and preserve its natural beauty.
