A138 (Ipswich - Shotley Gate)

This article is about the original A138 between Ipswich and Shotley Gate.
For the current A138 in Chelmsford, see A138.

The A138 (now B1456) leaving Shotley Gate

The original A138 was a rural road in Suffolk.

It started on the A137 to the south of Ipswich and then ran down the right bank of the River Orwell through Woolverstone and Chelmondiston. After going through Shotley it reached Shotley Gate and the River Stour. The A138 ended here just before running into the river.

The road never really went anywhere with the exception of the Navy's onshore training "ship" HMS Ganges at Shotley Gate, although it did provide access to the foot ferry to Harwich. As such it was downgraded to Class II status, becoming the B1456 in 1971.