| Why Portman Road? 12:28 - Sep 10 with 3772 views | Billywitch |
Why not Constantine Road, or whatever Sir Alf Ramsey way used to be?
Who decided that the Stadium, our home, would be known as Portman Road?
Always wondered that, best guess, the front road to the main office used to be on Portman Road |  | | |  |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:49 - Sep 10 with 2841 views | Bluish |
I'm guessing that Portman Road was the main road at the time. Similarly, I wonder why the club never adopted the 'Portmen' as a nickname given that was the reason for Portman Road. |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:52 - Sep 10 with 2807 views | Bury_St_Emersonn |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:49 - Sep 10 by Bluish |
I'm guessing that Portman Road was the main road at the time. Similarly, I wonder why the club never adopted the 'Portmen' as a nickname given that was the reason for Portman Road. |
They were holding out for Tractor Boys |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:57 - Sep 10 with 2775 views | EJP |
Some AI reasoning ...
In the late 19th century, Portman Road was the primary, newly developed road running directly alongside the site's western edge. The initial wooden stands and pavilions were built facing or accessed directly from this street, anchoring the ground's official postal address and public identity to it.
The Surrounding Streets Didn't Exist (or Were Minor): Many of the prominent roads enclosing the stadium today—such as Sir Alf Ramsey Way (formerly part of Constantine Road)—either did not exist in their current form, were smaller residential side streets, or were dominated by heavy industry (like the old tram depot and power station). |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 with 2708 views | neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:11 - Sep 10 with 2632 views | _CliveBaker_ |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 by neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. |
That's a lovely map. I'd love to walk around 1867 Ipswich for a day. |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:12 - Sep 10 with 2630 views | EJP |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 by neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. |
Interesting it's Portmans Road on the map. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:37 - Sep 10 with 2466 views | Churchman |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 by neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. |
Thank you for posting the link to the 1867 map. Fascinating. This is a map from 1780.
https://www.ipswich-lettering.
It’s hard to orientate to how it is today but ‘Portman’s Walk’ exists on both maps.
My understanding is that the area was very much low lying marsh and waste land and became important as the town grew.
The land that is now the football club was given over by the council for sporting activity bar the chunk next to Portman Rd itself, which remained wasteland. Cricket, rugby and other stuff was played there - all very Victorian philanthropic.
When the original Association football cub moved from Broom Hill it shared the ground with these pursuits and the football pitch ran parallel/where the drive in main entrance is now.
The chunk of wasteland next to Portman Road, tree lined until about 1910, was given to the football club and cleared and the pitch orientation as we know it was laid. The Chicken Run Stand was put up in about 1906 (and chickens did run under it for a little extra revenue!). Old photos show the team in front of the old cricket pavilions and other structures long gone.
It’s a very historic ground with a terrific past. I hope they never move from there. It IS the football club. |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 14:06 - Sep 10 with 2291 views | Guthrum |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 by neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. |
The National Libraries of Scotland has an excellent digital archive of old OS maps covering the whole of the UK. A very useful resource. |  |
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| Why Portman Road? on 14:07 - Sep 10 with 2272 views | Steve_M |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:11 - Sep 10 by _CliveBaker_ |
That's a lovely map. I'd love to walk around 1867 Ipswich for a day. |
It's fascinating isn't it? Recognisably the modern town but it's the things that are just that bit different that stand out:
Just looking mainly at the northeast corner:
- the railway station is there but not the line to Felixstowe
- the Old Cemetery approached by either Cemetery Lane or Tuddenham Road, both devoid of houses
- Argyle St merely a 'proposed road' and another longer one running from Woodbridge Road opposite Belvedere Road
- and then Cauldwell Hall Road running like a boundary on the east of town, again not many houses there. |  |
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| Why Portman Road? on 14:11 - Sep 10 with 2233 views | EastTownBlue |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:37 - Sep 10 by Churchman |
Thank you for posting the link to the 1867 map. Fascinating. This is a map from 1780.
https://www.ipswich-lettering.
It’s hard to orientate to how it is today but ‘Portman’s Walk’ exists on both maps.
My understanding is that the area was very much low lying marsh and waste land and became important as the town grew.
The land that is now the football club was given over by the council for sporting activity bar the chunk next to Portman Rd itself, which remained wasteland. Cricket, rugby and other stuff was played there - all very Victorian philanthropic.
When the original Association football cub moved from Broom Hill it shared the ground with these pursuits and the football pitch ran parallel/where the drive in main entrance is now.
The chunk of wasteland next to Portman Road, tree lined until about 1910, was given to the football club and cleared and the pitch orientation as we know it was laid. The Chicken Run Stand was put up in about 1906 (and chickens did run under it for a little extra revenue!). Old photos show the team in front of the old cricket pavilions and other structures long gone.
It’s a very historic ground with a terrific past. I hope they never move from there. It IS the football club. |
I’ve seen pictures of the area surrounding Ipswich station back in the day (perhaps from over Stoke tunnel) and it looked very picturesque. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:27 - Sep 10 with 1995 views | Billywitch |
| Why Portman Road? on 14:11 - Sep 10 by EastTownBlue |
I’ve seen pictures of the area surrounding Ipswich station back in the day (perhaps from over Stoke tunnel) and it looked very picturesque. |
I love seeing old train stations, reminds me what incredible pride that people took in their work, and the limited (compared to today) tools they had to create and build these things. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:30 - Sep 10 with 1979 views | Billywitch |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:49 - Sep 10 by Bluish |
I'm guessing that Portman Road was the main road at the time. Similarly, I wonder why the club never adopted the 'Portmen' as a nickname given that was the reason for Portman Road. |
I do know one thing, my Nanny tells me how "cross" her Dad was when the club moved from Broomhill to PR initially. The walk from Ashcroft Road was much further and put him out somewhat.
Would love for him to pop back to this world for 5mins, just to see what ITFC are now | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:31 - Sep 10 with 1978 views | EJP |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:27 - Sep 10 by Billywitch |
I love seeing old train stations, reminds me what incredible pride that people took in their work, and the limited (compared to today) tools they had to create and build these things. |
I'm the same when I walk past my local church which is 900 years old. I look at the craftsmanship, and wonder where we went wrong these past 30 to 40 years. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:34 - Sep 10 with 1958 views | Billywitch |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:31 - Sep 10 by EJP |
I'm the same when I walk past my local church which is 900 years old. I look at the craftsmanship, and wonder where we went wrong these past 30 to 40 years. |
Money!
Everyone tries to save a few quid here and there. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:35 - Sep 10 with 1956 views | oldburian |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:37 - Sep 10 by Churchman |
Thank you for posting the link to the 1867 map. Fascinating. This is a map from 1780.
https://www.ipswich-lettering.
It’s hard to orientate to how it is today but ‘Portman’s Walk’ exists on both maps.
My understanding is that the area was very much low lying marsh and waste land and became important as the town grew.
The land that is now the football club was given over by the council for sporting activity bar the chunk next to Portman Rd itself, which remained wasteland. Cricket, rugby and other stuff was played there - all very Victorian philanthropic.
When the original Association football cub moved from Broom Hill it shared the ground with these pursuits and the football pitch ran parallel/where the drive in main entrance is now.
The chunk of wasteland next to Portman Road, tree lined until about 1910, was given to the football club and cleared and the pitch orientation as we know it was laid. The Chicken Run Stand was put up in about 1906 (and chickens did run under it for a little extra revenue!). Old photos show the team in front of the old cricket pavilions and other structures long gone.
It’s a very historic ground with a terrific past. I hope they never move from there. It IS the football club. |
Talking of rugby Portman Road held an England Rugby Union trial before the Second World War. One of the old fellows in our in the 1970’s talked about just missing being a trialist. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:38 - Sep 10 with 1941 views | Yppswyche |
| Why Portman Road? on 12:57 - Sep 10 by EJP |
Some AI reasoning ...
In the late 19th century, Portman Road was the primary, newly developed road running directly alongside the site's western edge. The initial wooden stands and pavilions were built facing or accessed directly from this street, anchoring the ground's official postal address and public identity to it.
The Surrounding Streets Didn't Exist (or Were Minor): Many of the prominent roads enclosing the stadium today—such as Sir Alf Ramsey Way (formerly part of Constantine Road)—either did not exist in their current form, were smaller residential side streets, or were dominated by heavy industry (like the old tram depot and power station). |
A good example here of why never to trust AI on anything, as we all know Portman Rd runs along the Eastern edge of the football ground |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:42 - Sep 10 with 1925 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:07 - Sep 10 by neolithicman |
This map seems to confirm AI’s reasoning:
https://maps.nls.uk/view/24595
Although that map does predate the football club.
Constantine Road is on the map but seems to be little more than a country lane.
Ps. I have no idea why the national libraries of Scotland would have a map of Ipswich either. |
Note the tramway that took livestock to holding pens just north of the river before they were driven down to the cattle market. Some of those holding pens are still there next to the line. |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:52 - Sep 10 with 1881 views | flykickingbybgunn |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:42 - Sep 10 by flykickingbybgunn |
Note the tramway that took livestock to holding pens just north of the river before they were driven down to the cattle market. Some of those holding pens are still there next to the line. |
And for those perhaps not aware, the reason Town played midweek games on a Tuesday was because Ipswich Market was always on that day.
Wickham market on a Monday.
Ipswich market on a Tuesday
Bury market on a Wednesday
Stowmarket on a Thursday
Beccles market on a Friday.
And many more of course. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:00 - Sep 10 with 1828 views | Billywitch |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:42 - Sep 10 by flykickingbybgunn |
Note the tramway that took livestock to holding pens just north of the river before they were driven down to the cattle market. Some of those holding pens are still there next to the line. |
the line by the river near the station? | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:00 - Sep 10 with 1822 views | Portmanteauxcurling |
| Why Portman Road? on 15:42 - Sep 10 by flykickingbybgunn |
Note the tramway that took livestock to holding pens just north of the river before they were driven down to the cattle market. Some of those holding pens are still there next to the line. |
Whereas in Norwich they'd be holding crayons.
 |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:05 - Sep 10 with 1804 views | OldFart71 |
The name Portman Road came from apparently port men that walked across what was probably undeveloped land at the time to get to the Port. | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:16 - Sep 10 with 1744 views | stonojnr |
| Why Portman Road? on 14:07 - Sep 10 by Steve_M |
It's fascinating isn't it? Recognisably the modern town but it's the things that are just that bit different that stand out:
Just looking mainly at the northeast corner:
- the railway station is there but not the line to Felixstowe
- the Old Cemetery approached by either Cemetery Lane or Tuddenham Road, both devoid of houses
- Argyle St merely a 'proposed road' and another longer one running from Woodbridge Road opposite Belvedere Road
- and then Cauldwell Hall Road running like a boundary on the east of town, again not many houses there. |
We covered the Felixstowe line back in the discussion about Tomline Road. It didnt open till 1877, yes its 250 years old next year...and only went to Westerfield. It wasnt till 1879 trains from Felixstowe ran to Ipswich.
And the Ipswich to Woodbridge bit, that included Westerfield was only built between 1854-1859.
The map doesn't go far enough round to show the East suffolk junction, but it does say the Lowestoft/Gt Yarmouth line as text which is what the route was built to serve | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:19 - Sep 10 with 1730 views | yorkshireblue |
| Why Portman Road? on 13:37 - Sep 10 by Churchman |
Thank you for posting the link to the 1867 map. Fascinating. This is a map from 1780.
https://www.ipswich-lettering.
It’s hard to orientate to how it is today but ‘Portman’s Walk’ exists on both maps.
My understanding is that the area was very much low lying marsh and waste land and became important as the town grew.
The land that is now the football club was given over by the council for sporting activity bar the chunk next to Portman Rd itself, which remained wasteland. Cricket, rugby and other stuff was played there - all very Victorian philanthropic.
When the original Association football cub moved from Broom Hill it shared the ground with these pursuits and the football pitch ran parallel/where the drive in main entrance is now.
The chunk of wasteland next to Portman Road, tree lined until about 1910, was given to the football club and cleared and the pitch orientation as we know it was laid. The Chicken Run Stand was put up in about 1906 (and chickens did run under it for a little extra revenue!). Old photos show the team in front of the old cricket pavilions and other structures long gone.
It’s a very historic ground with a terrific past. I hope they never move from there. It IS the football club. |
There is a really interesting episode of The Rest is History about (in part) about how The Oval went from being marsh land to the role it played in invent modern, spectator sport as we know it.
https://therestishistory.com/e |  | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:25 - Sep 10 with 1706 views | Churchman |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:05 - Sep 10 by OldFart71 |
The name Portman Road came from apparently port men that walked across what was probably undeveloped land at the time to get to the Port. |
The original track that went to the river was Portmans Walk. Only a small bit of that exists now. Portman Road was Portmans Road so I think you are right.
It’s interesting looking at the old maps. The really old ones are out of scale but say enough. The really big impact is of course the railway which changes everything. You can see why it was built where it was. Flat with plenty of land for storage but access to the port and the town.
The cattle market was a logical place and I can still remember some of the grids and old long gone buildings. The chunk of waste ground next to Portman Road can still be seen in outline in this image posted by Dubtractor at the start of the year. It was used for storage and rubbish prior to clearance and the pitch being marked out.
 | | | |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:44 - Sep 10 with 1640 views | N17Blue |
| Why Portman Road? on 16:05 - Sep 10 by OldFart71 |
The name Portman Road came from apparently port men that walked across what was probably undeveloped land at the time to get to the Port. |
I'd always been told the Portman bit refers to the twelve "portmen" who ran the old medieval corporation of Ipswich before it was reformed in the nineteenth century, so it's the local equivalent of "alderman". | | | |
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