EYE, a parish and borough and market-town,
having separate jurisdiction, though
locally in the hundred of
Hartismere, county of SUFFOLK,
20 miles (N.) from j
Ipswich, and 89 (N.E. by I
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 Nor-,
mandy), 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 housfe
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 j 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.