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Eye in Suffolk County England History and GeographyEYE, a borough, market town, and parish, having separate jurisdiction, though locally in the hundred of Hartismere, county of SUFFOLK, 20½ miles (N.) from Ipswich, and 89½ (N.E. by N.) from London, containing 1882 inhabitants. The name of this place, anciently Eay, is derived from its situation on a tract of land almost surrounded with water, and in the adjoining fields small rudders, iron rings, and other articles of shipping tackle, have been frequently turned up by the plough. Soon after the Conquest, Robert, son of Robert Malet, who had accompanied William I. to England, having obtained the honour of Eye (of which he was afterwards dispossessed for taking part with Robert, Duke of Normandy), erected a castle here, of which there are still some slight remains at the foot of the Mill Hill. The same Robert Malet also founded a Benedictine monastery, dedicated to St. Peter, to which was annexed the episcopal see at Dunwich. In this monastery was preserved St. Felix' book of the Gospels, written in large Lombardic characters, and called the Red Book, on which the people used to be sworn, and which was removed from the abbey at Dunwich when that place was destroyed by the sea. The revenue at the dissolution was £184. 9. 7.: the remains of the buildings, which are to the east of the town, have been converted into stables. The town is pleasantly situated in a valley, surrounded on all sides by streams of excellent water, and within a distance of two miles from the high road from London to Norwich. A news-room is supported by subscription. The principal branch of manufacture is that of British lace, which, since the introduction of machinery, has been declining. The market is on Tuesday for corn, and there is also a market for butter and vegetables on Saturday: the fairs are on Whit-Monday, for pigs and toys; and July 22nd, for lambs and cattle. The government, by charter of incorporation from King John, confirmed by Queen Elizabeth and William III., is vested in two bailiffs, a recorder, ten capital burgesses, and twenty-four common council-men, assisted by a town clerk and other officers. The bailiffs are chosen annually on the Saturday preceding, and sworn into office on, the 29th of September: the late bailiffs act as coroners for the following year: the town clerk is appointed by the bailiffs and ten principal burgesses, and the other officers are chosen by the common council-men. The freedom of the borough is inherited by the eldest son only of a freeman, whether born within the borough or not; acquired by servitude to a master living within the borough during the whole term of apprenticeship, or obtained by gift. The bailiffs are justices of the peace, the county magistrates having concurrent jurisdiction within the borough. The corporation have the power to hold a court of record every Saturday, under a charter of the 9th of William III., for the recovery of debts to any amount, but this court has not been held since Jan 1st., 1816. Courts leet are held annually within a month after Ladyday and Michaelmas. The town-hall is a handsome building in the centre of the town, adjoining the house of industry. A new gaol has been erected, which is a lofty and commodious edifice, well adapted to its purpose. The elective franchise was conferred in the thirteenth of Elizabeth, since which time the borough has regularly returned two members to parliament: the right of election is vested in the free burgesses generally, in number about two hundred, who are chiefly in the interest of Marquis Cornwallis: the bailiffs are the returning officers. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and diocese of Norwich, rated in the king's books at £11. 14. 7., and in the patronage of Major General Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart. The church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a spacious and handsome structure, with a fine square tower in the later style of English architecture: in the chancel is a very ancient tomb much defaced, and in the north aisle a curious piece of sculpture representing the good Samaritan. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists. A free grammar school, the founder of which is unknown, is endowed by the corporation with £10 per annum for the master, and with the rents of some land for the support of an usher; there are twenty boys at present on the foundation of this school, which has two exhibitions to Cambridge for sons of freemen born in the borough. A National school for children of both sexes is supported by subscription. An almshouse was founded in 1636, by Mr. Nicholas Bedingfield, who endowed it with certain lands and houses in Eye, for the support of four poor widows, or aged unmarried women. Marquis Cornwallis enjoys the inferior title of Baron Cornwallis, of Eye, in the county of Suffolk. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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