Ipswich & Essex

Introducing Ipswich & Essex

Heading up the North Shore from Cape Ann, Ipswich and Essex are pretty New England towns surrounded by rocky coast and sandy beaches, extensive marshlands, forested hills and rural farmland.

Ipswich is one of those New England towns that is pretty today because it was poor in the past. Because it had no harbor, and no source of waterpower for factories, commercial and industrial development went elsewhere in the 18th and 19th centuries. As a result, Ipswich’s 17th-century houses were not torn down to build grander residences. Today the town is famous for its ample antique shops and succulent clams. Home of novelist John Updike, it is also the setting for some of his novels and short stories like A&P, which is based on the local market.

Last updated: Apr 17, 2009