The Ipswich Maritime Trust has been building up its historical collections, in relation to the Wet Dock, the port and the River Orwell, for decades.

East Anglian Daily Times: Thames sailing barge Victor at the quayside in Ipswich, with skipper `Wes' WestwoodThames sailing barge Victor at the quayside in Ipswich, with skipper `Wes' Westwood (Image: Archant)

The IMT’s image archive continues to grow, and now contains more than 2,500 historical scenes of the dock and river.

It now includes some of the world’s oldest surviving photographs, taken in the newly built Victorian wet dock, not long after the invention of photography

The archive, developed by IMT director Stuart Grimwade, tells the story of the dock, the people that built it, and the sailing and steam ships it served here.

Stuart will be giving an illustrated talk, on board the sailing barge Victor, at the quayside in the Waterfront, at 7.30pm on Friday December 9.

Skipper Wes is promising to make it a festive occasion too.

Tickets, in advance, are available from the Tourist Information Office in St Stephen’s Lane, Ipswich.