Plans were made in the 1950s to redevelop the area between St Matthews Street and Princes Street in Ipswich, writes David Kindred.

East Anglian Daily Times: Do you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNERDo you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNER (Image: Archant.)

Houses in the area, known as The Mount, were demolished.

Streets like Castle Street, Perth Street and Stirling Street disappeared under the area where Civic Drive, the New Wolsey Theatre and the spiral underground car park are now.

Part of St Matthews Street was made into a dual carriageway with shops and businesses demolished in the mid 1960s.

East Anglian Daily Times: This part of Handford Road, Ipswich, is now under Civic Drive. The public house on the left was the Elephant and Castle, which closed in the early 1960s. Picture: DAVID KINDREDThis part of Handford Road, Ipswich, is now under Civic Drive. The public house on the left was the Elephant and Castle, which closed in the early 1960s. Picture: DAVID KINDRED (Image: Dave Kindred)

The old St Matthew’s School was demolished and a new one built in part of St Matthew’s Churchyard.

Several public houses in the area closed and residents who lost their homes were moved to council housing on the edge of town.

In today’s Days Gone By, I have included a few reminders of the area which was changed so much in the 1950s and 60s.

East Anglian Daily Times: Do you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNERDo you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNER (Image: Archant.)

Do you have memories of this part of Ipswich you would like to share with readers?

If so send an email here.

East Anglian Daily Times: Do you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNERDo you recognise anybody in these photographs taken at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Picture: JERRY TURNER (Image: Archant.)

The picture below is The Queens Head Hotel which was at the corner of St Matthews Street and St Matthews Church Lane.

It closed New Years Eve 1963. Civic Drive is now where St Matthews Church Lane was.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: ALAN VALENTINEPicture: ALAN VALENTINE (Image: Dave Kindred)

This picture was taken in March 1964 as the building was waiting demolition.

Here is an aerial view of the Civic Centre, spiral car park, with St Matthews School and Church at the top.

The Wolsey Theatre, which opened in September 1979, was being built (right centre) when this photograph was taken.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: JIM EMPSONPicture: JIM EMPSON (Image: Dave Kindred)

The Civic Centre was demolished in 2008 when the Ipswich Council moved their offices to Russell Road.

Take a look at the original St Matthews School which stood close to where the Civic Drive/Handford Road roundabout is now.

The new school was built in part of the St Matthews Churchyard.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: JOHN WIGGINPicture: JOHN WIGGIN (Image: Dave Kindred)

This photograph, one of the earliest photographs taken in Ipswich, is from the 1850s.

This one shows St Matthews Church Lane in the late 1950s, during demolition work.

This is where Civic Drive is now. The sign on the door of the lorry says “County Borough of Ipswich Highways Department”.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: David Kindred archive.Picture: David Kindred archive. (Image: Dave Kindred)

The lane in the foreground still runs from Civic Drive to Portman Road, past St Matthews Church.

The picture shows St Matthews Street in the early 1960s, the light coloured building in the centre was the Lord Palmerston public house, which closed January 31, 1962.

The buildings in the right background, at the corner of Crown Street and Westgate Street, are still there today.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: JACK KEENPicture: JACK KEEN (Image: Dave Kindred)

Lady Lane viewed from Westgate Street in April 1966.

The lane saw many of its buildings demolished during the 60s redevelopment.

East Anglian Daily Times: Picture: ALAN VALENTINEPicture: ALAN VALENTINE (Image: Dave Kindred)

The building on the left was the Feathers public house which closed in 1966.

East Anglian Daily Times: Happy faces during playtime at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Can you add any names to this picture? Picture: JERRY TURNERHappy faces during playtime at St Matthews School, Ipswich, in May 1977. Can you add any names to this picture? Picture: JERRY TURNER (Image: Archant)

East Anglian Daily Times: Mount Street, Ipswich, in 1933. This photograph illustrates the tiny houses and narrow streets, which were demolished in the area. Picture by Guy Maynard, courtesy Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service.Mount Street, Ipswich, in 1933. This photograph illustrates the tiny houses and narrow streets, which were demolished in the area. Picture by Guy Maynard, courtesy Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service. (Image: Dave Kindred)