More never been seen before pictures of the construction of the Orwell Bridge have been released ahead of its 40th birthday. 

Paul Templeton captured the pictures in 1982 while the works were being carried out.

Ipswich Star: Workers on the Orwell BridgeWorkers on the Orwell Bridge (Image: Paul Templeton)

Ipswich Star: Construction of the Orwell BridgeConstruction of the Orwell Bridge (Image: Paul Templeton)

 

 

December 17 will officially mark the 40th anniversary of the Orwell Bridge opening.

Paul Templeton who captured the striking pictures said he and his two friends David Ellis and Geoff Pleasance would walk along the Strand to get pictures of the construction taking place. 

Mr Templeton added said his neighbour, who was a structural engineer on the bridge, gave them access on a Sunday to photographs of the bridge. 

Ipswich Star:

Ipswich Star:

"These are some of the results in photographs of that day," he said.

"I was lucky that all of Dave Ellis's original slides were not lost after he passed away in 2008.

"It was only when I was given the task of sorting out his photographic collection did I stumble across a heap of boxed photographic slides, and one box caught my eye with Orwell Bridge, so I quickly looked at them and decided to keep them.

"It wasn't until thirteen years later that I looked at them and decided that they were of a quality slide to do something with."

Ipswich Star:

Ipswich Star:

An exhibition marking 40 years of the Orwell Bridge is being run throughout November at the Suffolk Food Hall. 

Photos from Howard Morris and Paul Templeton have been collated - while the exhibition also includes a unique social history video made by Matt Marvel of BBC Suffolk, recording the lives of those involved in the build.

Some of the images were featured in the Platinum Years exhibition at the Suffolk Show this year, while many have never been on display to the public before.