Welcome to the IDHTS’s website
Last edited 12th January 2026
The IDHTS
Our History:
Robert (Bob) Pratt, a well known local businessman and amateur historian had the idea to form a Society to provide a forum for all those interested in the history of transport. Bob had already been involved in the formation of two local historical organisations, the Suffolk Photographic Survey & the Suffolk Local History Council (both are accessible via Suffolk Local History Council link). Bob assembled a small group of local transport enthusiasts who formed the Ipswich and District Historical Transport Society in 1963 to cover transport by air, road, rail and water.
The initial format of monthly meetings, with the exception of June, July and August, has continued almost unchanged until the present day. The meetings are addressed by invited locally and nationally known speakers.
Visits are also made to local venues of transport interest.
The Ipswich and District Historical Transport Society publishes a quarterly newsletter 'Transport Matters' (ISSN 0306 0187), this publication includes accounts of lectures given and articles on transport subjects.
The Society meets at the Ipswich Citadel, Salvation Army, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH at 7.30 p.m. (doors open from 7.00). Free car parking available & refreshments. Entrance fee £2.50. (Non-members £4.00) Non-members always welcome. http://www.ipswichanddistricthistoricaltransportsociety.co.uk or on the IDHTS Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ipswichanddistricthistoricalsociety/
The Committee reserve the right to amend the programme due to non-availability of the presenter/s. Please always check our website or Facebook page for up-to-date details of events.
IDHTS Meetings 2025/2026
The Ipswich & District Historical Transport Society’s next meeting is on Wednesday 25th February is ‘Shipwrecks around East Anglia’- presented by Andy Beharrell. After Andy’s very informative & entertaining presentation last season on the Maunsell Towers, we are pleased to welcome him back for our 1st meeting of 2026. The waters around the east coast of England have been important commercial routes for many centuries. They have seen a rapid growth in trade, wars and various disputes. Wartime, inclement weather and accidents have meant that many lives have been lost on the ships which have plied their trade on these waters. In this presentation we will look at the hidden history revealed by the various shipwrecks around our East Anglian coast. These shipwrecks can tell us about trade in roman times, the brutal history of the Anglo-Dutch wars and the devastation of World War II. Even more modern times have taken their toll on the ships and barges navigating the coast, look closely under the water and you can even find the carcasses of pirate radio stations, their turntables long silent. This presentation will reveal a fraction of the history which our sandbanks and mudflats hide. Image supplied by A Beharrell.
The Society meets at the Ipswich Citadel, Salvation Army, 558 Woodbridge Road, Ipswich IP4 4PH at 7.30 p.m. (doors open from 7.00). Free car parking available & refreshments. Entrance fee £2.50. (Non-members £4.00) Non-members are always welcome.
Other 2026 Spring Season Meetings Planned are:
Mar 25th: The History of Colne Valley Railway by Paul Lemon (Chairman of CVR)
Apr 29th: R.A.F. Bawdsey Radar "The Eyes of the Few" Presented by Graham Murchie
May 27th: Norfolk Rail Society-We hope to publish the details of NRS presentations & speaker details TBC in March Transport Matters & IDHTS Website & Facebook page.
*The Committee reserve the right to amend the programme due to non-availability of the presenter/s. Please always check our Facebook page for up-to-date details of events.
