Holywells Park is a beautiful park situated just north of the emerging Waterfront area. It has 67 acres of rolling grounds, ponds and woodland between Nacton Road and Cliff Lane.
Holywells Park opened to the public in 1936. Its former mansion was demolished but a grade II listed Orangery from the late 19th century exisits.
Ipswich Borough Council has applied for Heritage Lottery funding to restore part of the park, including the old Stable Block.
Holywells Park Play Area
The park contains a state of the art children's play area, a paddling pool, which is open in summer, and a bowling green.
The play area was built on a galleon theme by Ipswich Borough Council and opened in 2007. Named after the Discovery, which sailed to North America to found Jamestown, the play area attracts youngsters from all over Ipswich and beyond. There are around 20 pieces of play equipment, along with sheltered picnic areas.
History of the Park
The park was part the Manor of Wykes Bishop, held by the Bishops of Norwich from the 13th Century. During the reign of Henry VIII, the Manor was surrendered to the Crown and then granted to Sir John Jermy. The title of Lord of the Manor was acquired by John Cobbold in 1812.
During the 18th Century, a succession of brewers worked in the park and used the waters to make beer. The Cobbold family had owned land at Holy Wells from 1689. They had begun their brewery in Harwich but had problems with the water there and for many years used ships to transport water from Holywells to Harwich and to return to Ipswich with beer.
Holywells House was built in the 19th Century on the site of an old farmhouse. Its Victorian gardens were redesigned in the 20th Century in accordance with the ideas of gardeners such as Gertrude Jekyll.
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