Wolsey 550
Ipswich Historic Lettering: Wolsey 550Still from the Tracing the footprint film
'Cardinal Wolsey: possibly born 1473, died 1530
'Thomas Wolsey was the son of Robert Wolsey, an Ipswich butcher, and his wife Joan (née Daundy).  Wolsey was born near the parish church of St Nicholas in the centre of Ipswich. Accounts vary, both as to the year of Wolsey’s birthday and the location of the birthplace, the latter probably being either an inn in the parish of St Mary Elm, (possibly the Black Horse Inn?) or a butcher’s shop, possibly in St Nicholas Church Lane. 

'Later this year, and into next, Ipswich will be celebrating the life and achievements of the great statesman. Over a period of 550 days (March 2023 to September 2024), 550 years after his birth a wide variety of events will take place. During his life Wolsey achieved phenomenal social progress, from being a lowly Ipswich schoolboy to holding one of the highest offices of State, the most powerful Minister in Tudor England, a position second only to the King himself. The proposed series of events will be an opportunity to acknowledge Wolsey’s outstanding progress, promote the significance of the town over the centuries, dispel the current negativity and encourage a sense of pride.

'A committee led by Terry Hunt with the assistance of Katherine Cockshaw have made an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund for just under a quarter of a million pounds. If successful this will enable numerous events to take place, particularly in schools, but also in community and public halls across Ipswich, spreading the knowledge of Wolsey and his success from those humble beginnings to becoming Henry VIII’s Chancellor.

'Over the past century events have included pageants, stage plays, church services and exhibitions. The latest proposals could include, depending on Lottery funding, creating a ‘Tudor Garden’ at the Stoke Bridge entrance to the Waterfront, and an exhibition of his life, and of Tudor Ipswich, possibly in St Peter’s Church. St Peter’s is the church Wolsey sequestered as his college chapel. The parishioners, and daily services, were moved to St Mary Key.

'Wolsey started a college in the town that historians believe could have rivalled the colleges of Oxford if the cardinal had not fallen from power. Scholars have pored over, and written volumes on Wolsey’s role in Henry VIII's divorce and of his negotiations with the Pope in the late 1520s – but his early life in Ipswich is not so well known and the anniversary celebrations starting in March next year are aimed at shining a light on his whole life.

'Terry Hunt said: "Wolsey’s story has so much importance, not just for Ipswich but to the country as a whole and the world beyond.  This project will unearth his story which is about ambition, aspiration, the importance of education and the ability of anyone to succeed if they are given the right opportunities.  An important aspect is that Wolsey was proud of his roots in Ipswich and this initiative can do a great deal for restoring civic pride.” '
The Ipswich Society Newsletter January, 2023. The successful 'Wolsey 550' project referred to above went ahead as planned.


Cardboard Wolsey structure
Ipswich Historic Lettering: Wolsey 550 cardboard structurePhotograph by John Norman
Building a cardboard model on the Cornhill simply cries out with a number of pleas:-
1. Why wasn’t it built on the vacant land behind Wolsey’s Gate?
2. Why wasn’t it built of a somewhat more permanent material, to last 365 days rather than a simply the number of hours it did? It went up on Saturday 21 October 2023 and was demolished at 4.00pm on the Sunday.
3. Why weren’t a greater number of the Ipswich public informed of its construction? A more permanent version would have received much wider publicity over a longer time span.

Perhaps my criticism is uncalled for. It was a great idea, a fantastic construction (of considerable size – nearly 17 metres or 55 feet high). The construction phase drew a large, ever-changing crowd throughout Saturday, and an even bigger number gathered for the demolition countdown on Sunday. The idea of building in cardboard at this scale came from artist and project manager Olivier Grossetête. Born in Paris in 1973, he lives in Marseille and works all around the world. He has been building similar large models since 2014 and this was an excellent addition to this year’s Spill Festival (supported by Wolsey 550, Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Central).

The team, recruited from the public, spent all week in the Town Hall building cardboard boxes: either ‘bricks’, about 1 x 2 metres, or frites (chips), long square-ended boxes. Some of these were then adapted to become arches, decorative lintels, even a coat of arms. The roof was built first, elevated by a team of helpers (passers-by) whilst the next level of corner pieces was slid underneath. Needless to say by the time they reached what were to become layers 3, 2, and 1 lifting proved somewhat difficult, it was late in the day and recruits were thin on the ground.

However, by the end of Saturday it was up, free-standing and magnificent, drawing gasps of admiration from those who came to see it. Let’s invite Olivier back to build another next year – any idea what?
The Ipswich Society Newsletter January, 2024. Both articles above by the late John Norman.

The Big Huzzah!
Ipswich Historic Lettering: Wolsey 550 processionImage courtesy Mervyn Russen
Above: Ipswich school children being led through St Nicholas Street, past Curson Lodge, by Tudor music groups: The Cambridge and Colchester Waits, fronted by professional Renaissance musician, Emma Mordue.
‘Wolsey’s Big Huzzah!’ on July 4 2024 was the culmination of collaborative work between Ipswich Central’s Thomas Wolsey 550 project, the Suffolk Music Hub and five Ipswich primary schools: Broke Hall, Ranelagh Road, Ravenswood, St Marks and Rosehill. As each group of children joined the procession, they sang their song. The destination was the Cornhill where a performance was followed by all the children joining in singing all four Tudor songs. Luminaries looked on from the Town Hall balcony (see above). Hundreds of spectators lined the route and gathered to watch Sidegate Primary School’s finale performance with Gecko Theatre on the Cornhill. Four Tudor songs were sung by the school children, they were: Tomorrow the Fox, Hey Ho Nobody Home, Tallis Canon and Great Tom’s Cast.
Kath Cockshaw, Thomas Wolsey 550 project director said: ‘Today has been absolutely brilliant. What a way to engage children and their families in our town’s Tudor heritage and celebrate all that’s been achieved during the Wolsey 550 schools programme.’
Below: Thomas Wolsey (played by Wolsey biographer Phil Roberts), King Henry VIII and Ipswich Mayor, Councillor Elango Elavalacan, marvel at the crowds in front of the town hall from high on the balcony.

Ipswich Historic Lettering: Wolsey 550 processionImage courtesy Mervyn Russen

Wolsey 550 Phase 1 – and Phase 2
The Wolsey 550 team announced that their education programme had won further funding from the Ipswich Policy Development Panel Investment Fund to continue to deliver services until the end of March 2025.
On Sunday 13 October 2024, the annual Ipswich Borough Civic Service in St Mary Le Tower Church was combined with a celebration of the completion of Phase 1 of  Wolsey 550 after 18 months of events, activities, community engagement, and work with Ipswich schools and other groups. At the reception in the Town Hall's Council Chamber, Terry Hunt, the Chair of Wolsey 550 emphasised that bit about 'Phase 1'. Plans were drawn up for a further – and larger – National Lottery bid for funding. This would enable refurbishment of the Stoke Bridge area and 'viewing platform' overlooking St Peters Dock and, indeed, the whole Waterfront. There would also be funding for an Out Town Heritagetheatre project at Red Rose Chain theatre company. Also lighting and sound equipment for music gigs and other projects. The unique history of Ipswich would be celebrated with the natural port location of the future town adopted by the Anglo-Saxon settlers and its rise (and occasional falls) in economic power over the centuries. There is much more to say about this next phase of Wolsey 550 as it develops.


Related pages
Wolsey's College
Wolsey Pageant 1930
Wolsey 450
Wolsey statue
Christchurch Park & Mansion (under
The Wolsey Art Gallery/Wolsey Garden)



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