so the advertisement was painted after that date, presumably with a payment to the residents from Woottons – or was the first resident Mr Wootton himself? The residential  developments during the Victorian and Edwardian periods tended to be rather piecemeal in nature; houses or groups of houses, being erected by different landowners/builders at different dates. Infilling of plots followed and this is probably what happened to the sign in Camden Road.

• 5. We wonder if there is any relation to Woottons (it's the same spelling) in Tavern Street? The shop was once Woottons hair-dressers but, judging by the readable lettering above the old shop, it dealt in products and services revolving around the body. Perhaps they produced their own patent medicines, including a cure for corns
  

[UPDATE 15.1.2024: a gentleman in the audience at one of Borin's talks in January 2024 posited the dea that Camden Road was a major thoroughfare for foot traffic from the Derby Road railway station; therefore many eyes would have seen the advertisement. When we looked at the current and earlier maps of the area, this didn't appear to be the case. For a foot passenger walking from the station, a sharp turn off Derby Road back on Stanley Avenue almost parallel with the railway line would take them to the southern end of  Orwell Road. The land to the east of this was the industrial site for Bull Motors and Celestion Audio. We know that there was a market garden on the land to the south of Camden Road and Dover Road. Moreover, there was a branch freght line from the main line which looped round to the north to service the foundry/Bull Motors site (see map detail below dated 1937-1961) – this would cut off public access. We can't find any evidence of a footpath giving access to Camden Road from Stanley Avenue, so we cannot see it as a likely route. If you know better contact us.]
 

Wootton's Remarkable Cure For Corns
[UPDATE 20.4.2021: 'Just read your interesting article on Wootton’s the hair salon and I notice the below question was asked re. The Cure for Corns and whether there was a link. The below pot lid confirms it was retailed by Wootton’s. Simon Dyer.'] Many thanks to Simon for sending this fascinating piece of cross-fertilising promotion on a ceramic pot lid. Not only the extensive extolling of the virtues of their Macassar Pomade: "will effectually remove dandriff (sic)", but also, around the perimiter:
Image courtesy Simon Dyer
[UPDATE from Jenny Wootton, 27.4.2026: ‘I have chanced upon your website and of particular interest is the signage on the side of a particular house in Camden Road, Ipswich, depicting ‘Wootton’s Cure for Corns’. I am very aware of the Wootton’s business in Ipswich and indeed the signage above the old shop in Tavern Street, but I have not been aware of this signage in Camden Road before. Being born and bred in Ipswich, my late father, John (Pip) Wootton, ran the family business in its later years. I am very interested and curious as to the positioning of the sign in what appears to be a random residential street. Are you able to shed any light or point me towards any information? Is the signage still to this day in existence on the side of this particular house?  My father would’ve been very interested in this too.’

Caroline Ford [who has also contributed to our Wottons page] is my cousin. The ‘Cure for Corns’ pomade was, I believe, invented by my great-grandfather, George Wootton, who was the founder of the Wootton’s business in the late 1800s in Tavern Street. Who would’ve thought it would be such a big business! Oh and, as an aside: every time I visit Ipswich I marvel at the signage in Tavern Street, ‘Fancy Goods’ etc, which is STILL there on display, it’s amazing; I gaze up at it in awe whenever I pass through the town. Also the white strip of paint on the front of the building hides the name ‘Wootton’s’ underneath, I believe, and when the paint peels off, which it has done in the past, the name is still loud and proud!’

Thanks to Jenny for responding to this web-page. When descendants of notable Ipswich family names contribute to this website we are particularly interested. Jenny Wootton’s enquiry prompts us to explore further any possible link to foot traffic to and from Derby Road station which might account for the location of the Camden Road sign.]

Note also the nearby lost trade sign painted on the side wall of a house on the corner of Foxhall Road and Orwell Road.



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