Ravenswood, Ipswich
Encyclopedia
Ravenswood is a district within Ipswich
, Suffolk
, UK
. It is sited on the old Ipswich Airport
to the south-east of the town.
The area is one experiencing rapid growth in housing numbers from private housing developers. In total, 1,250 houses and apartments are likely to be built with an affordable housing ratio of 30%.
The development has built with environmental considerations. to be environmentally sensitive. Space for cars has been limited, with speed bumps and other traffic calming measures, a frequent bus service links to the town centre. Mixed cycle paths and walkways are also a feature. Incorporated into the design of the buildings and sewers is a sustainable urban drainage system which allows rainfall to be returned to the environment without going through the sewerage system. Plans are in early stages for the construction of a large wind turbine on Ravenswood.
A number of pieces of public art have been installed or commissioned: "Formation" by Rick Kirby
at the entrance, designed to commemorate the areas links with aviation; "Handstanding" by Martin Heron
near the school; "Green Wind 2" by Diane Maclean
as a focal point beyond the end of Downham Boulevard on the Tump; and "Propeller" by Harry Gray
has been placed adjacent to the green.
Ravenswood contains a primary school, sports centre and an NHS
independent care centre, called Bluebird Lodge. A retirement home named after Jamie Cann
the MP
for Ipswich who died in 2001 is also in the area. Behind the former terminal building, which has been converted into apartments, a small shopping centre has been built. There is one pub, The Raven.
Near to Ravenswood is Orwell Country Park, the Orwell Bridge
, touring and static caravan parks, a Scouting
and Girl Guides
camp site, and a nine-hole pay and play golf
course.
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is sited on the old Ipswich Airport
Ipswich Airport
Ipswich Airport is a former airfield on the outskirts of Ipswich, Suffolk England.-History:The site of Ravens Wood was purchased by the Ipswich Corporation in 1929 with the intention of creating a municipal airport for Ipswich, with construction starting in the following year. The airport was...
to the south-east of the town.
Construction
A number of pieces of public art have been installed or commissioned: "Formation" by Rick Kirby
Rick Kirby
Rick Kirby is an English sculptor born in Gillingham, Kent.Kirby started sculpting in stone before moving to use welded steel, for which he is better known.-Notable commissions:*Formation in Ravenswood, Ipswich, 2003....
at the entrance, designed to commemorate the areas links with aviation; "Handstanding" by Martin Heron
Martin Heron
Martin Heron is a sculptor from Northern Ireland working with steel.-Notable commissions:* Where dreams go, Strabane District Council, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, 2007-08* Handstanding, Ipswich Borough Council, Ravenswood, Ipswich, 2006...
near the school; "Green Wind 2" by Diane Maclean
Diane Maclean
Diane Maclean is a sculptor and environmental artist, she is a Fellow and council member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors.Diane gained a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the University of Hertfordshire, having previously gained a BA in modern languages at University College...
as a focal point beyond the end of Downham Boulevard on the Tump; and "Propeller" by Harry Gray
Harry Gray
Harry Gray or Grey may refer to:*Harry Gray , American business executive*Harry B. Gray , American chemist*Harry Gray , British sculptor of Battle of Britain Memorial, Capel-le-Ferne-See also:...
has been placed adjacent to the green.
Amenities
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
independent care centre, called Bluebird Lodge. A retirement home named after Jamie Cann
Jamie Cann
Jamie Charles Cann was a British Labour Party politician, who was the Leader of Ipswich Borough Council from 1979 to 1991, before becoming the Member of Parliament for Ipswich in 1992, a seat he held until his death in 2001.-Early and family life:He was educated at Barton on Humber Grammar School...
the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Ipswich who died in 2001 is also in the area. Behind the former terminal building, which has been converted into apartments, a small shopping centre has been built. There is one pub, The Raven.
Near to Ravenswood is Orwell Country Park, the Orwell Bridge
Orwell Bridge
The Orwell Bridge was opened to road traffic in 1982 and carries the A14 over the River Orwell just south of Ipswich in Suffolk, England....
, touring and static caravan parks, a Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
and Girl Guides
Girlguiding UK
Girlguiding UK is the national Guiding organisation of the United Kingdom. Guiding began in the UK in 1910 after Robert Baden-Powell asked his sister Agnes to start a group especially for girls that would be run along similar lines to Scouting for Boys. The Guide Association was a founder member of...
camp site, and a nine-hole pay and play golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course.