Eye will be hosting the Eye Heritage Open Days 9-17 Sept 2023 with all the venues below and more new one’s.
Eye Heritage Open Days
The Them for 2023 is Creativity and Eye Town and surrounding area has an abundance of this so look out for a fantastic event this September.
Eye Heritage Open Days
Eye Heritage Open Day 2022 we hope you enjoyed the day, from all the residents and business of Eye Suffolk.
The Eye Heritage Hike winner
Eye Heritage Open Day, Eye Heritage Hike Winner
Winners of First and Second Place in the period Fancy Dress Competition on Eye Heritage Open Day.
Eye Heritage Open Day period Fancy Dress winner UGG the Cave Man
Henry the eighth wins second place
Just some of the team of Volunteers
If you were a visitor and have pictures of this event, please share them on our FaceBook page or on Instagram.
Eye 1st Scouts attend Eye Heritage Open Day
The History of the Remembrance Day Poppy
Memorial masonry records and visual history
Tea, Coffee and Cake at the Town Hall
The history of Eye Suffolk exhibition in the Eye Town Hall
The Eye Archive exhibits at Eye Heritage Open Day
A very big Thank you to all who volunteered their help for this event and all who attended, without the help of all the wonderful residents and businesses in Eye we could not have had such a glorious day. See you next year.
Never been to Eye in Suffolk take a quick tour now take a walk through the Church grounds
Heritage Open Day Sunday September 18th is a Free Event for all to take part and visit the Town of Eye.
Eye Heritage Street Hike – Sunday Heritage Talk & children’s period dress competition
See the rich heritage of business & retail on the Eye Heritage Walk guided by an informative map. Premises will display a picture of the building as it was in times past. Sunday a talk before you walk 10.30 & Children’s Period Dress 15.30
Eye boasts so many listed and converted premises which have become homes. All have a history and a story to tell, from a Public House that was the scene of a murder is just one myth or true tale. You can take a walk to find the truth, discovering the history of this market town
The walk is aimed at both adults and children and will take a trail around the town centre identifying the past in pictures and words, also introducing the present traders to visitors and locals alike. You can wander at your leisure with a lunch stop at one of the town’s many eateries and coffee houses or the Queens Head named after Boudica the Dragon Queen. Each shop which will be numbered and show a picture of the store as it was in times past marked on a map available from Harrison Edge the Estate Agent, the Handyman Store or the Library.
On Sunday 18th September there will be a talk before you walk at 10.30 at the Eye Community Centre. Tony Diamond, the infamous storyteller will be give a talk about the heritage of Eye Town in pictures and words.
Tony Diamond who is a Speaker
The centre has a large free car park for you to start your visit to Eye Suffolk. On the B1117 or for your SatNav IP23 7AJ
Period Dress
Children’s Period Dress Competition
Events will climax on Sunday at 3.30 pm at the Community Centre the judging the children’s period dress competition. A prize for first and second place will be awarded for the best and most imaginatively dressed entrant. Sponsor Harrison Edge Estate Agents IP23 7AN.
Children’s Period Dress sponsor
Come as someone or something from the past to win
Our thanks to the COOP and McColls of Church Street Eye for their cakes for this event.
Eye Heritage Hike
Torbell Store on Cross street Eye Suffolk
Eye Heritage Hike Map
CORA STUDIOS COPYRIGHT LOGO
Shazans Foods Limited Eye Suffolk
Thank you Shazans Foods for sponsoring the First and Second cash children’s prize on Eye Heritage Hike
- Outflux_ Branding _Design_Advertising
Our thanks to Outflux for artwork for the Eye Heritage hike
Heritage Open Day Sunday September 18th Buildings and Events open 12.00 – 15.00
The Victorian Town Hall Eye Suffolk Eye and District Heritage Day
Eye Town Hall, Broad St, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7AB
Eye and it’s surrounding villages are steeped in history. A visit is an opportunity to see the wonderful history that Eye Town has to offer and an invitation to explore the Town Hall and take a tour of the town.
You are invited to view a collection of historical displays from the building of our famous Norman Castle and medieval Church through to World War 2 .Indeed get a lift up to the old WW2 airfield the wartime home of the 490th BG(H)USAAF in a 1942 Jeep where there will be a display of other vehicles from that era.
Local Artist Peter Barter
Eye on the front line of WW2 1942 – 1943
No aircraft on the runway today however a collection of WW2 vehicles for viewing.
More about the 490th BG (H) visit the two memorials that can be found on the 2 Eye Airfield Walks
490th USAAF JEEP parked by Eye Town Hall
Travel to the WW2 Airfield wartime home of the 490th BG (H) USAAF in a 1942 Jeep, available on request book at the Town Hall on the day. Alternatively take the footpath and visit the Victoria Mill site on route to the airfield.
Victoria Mill, Eye
Millfield, Castleton Way, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7DE
This post mill was built around 1799 and was used for grinding corn.A post mill is the earliest type of European windmill.The whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post.
Victoria Mill Eye Suffolk
Mainly timber-framed, whose body, containing machinery and carrying the sail, rotates about an upright post.A tower-like structure of wood or brick with a wooden cap and sails which are driven around by the wind producing power to work the internal machinery.
In August 1889 the mill was damaged by lightning and then in the 1920s it was so severely damaged by a storm it was never repaired.Parts were used in restoration of other mills, Framsden Post Mill. 1990: and Thrigby Mill in Norfolk.
The Bank, Eye Suffolk
The Bank Cafe & Arts Centre, 2 Castle Street, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7AN
Originally built as a Midland Bank. To meet banking needs of individuals and companies trading in Eye,Suffolk. Later in life this building was rebranded as a HSBC bank, before closing as a bank serving the town of Eye.
- The Bank Arts Centre Castle Street Eye Suffolk
The Bank is the trading name of Eyes Open CIC, a not-for-profit Community Interest Company dedicated to bringing arts to the rural town of Eye. The Bank is a Community Arts Centre & Coffee House in an old HSBC Bank, a Grade II Listed building, The Bank embraces a wide range of creative arts, including visual arts, music, theatre, literature and performance There is a coffee house, exhibition space and educational centre, offering a wide range of classes and workshops, as well as other craft activities.The Vault under the Bank is a high spec digital hub hosting training,gaming and soon a sound recording/editing studio.
During the Heritage Day the Bank will be serving Afternoon Cream teas
Eye Twin Chapels and Cemetery
Eye Cemetery , Yaxley Road, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7DP
A pair of Victorian Chapels one each side of the gravel driveway. It is increasingly rare to have two chapels on the same site. One is still in use. Both are scheduled for refurbishment as part of a whole cemetery wide project.
Twin Victorian Chapels either side of the driveway
This event is a real opportunity to get involved with living history and a vision for the future. This site is not normally open directly to the public. It is to bring awareness of a very special project to restore and repurpose the chapels. You can get involved with living history by joining the group who are working on this prestigious history project and help it come to life. Your skills can help to provide a living memory and a place of heritage, history, reflection and regeneration.
A working Project you can join
This is a working project and as much input and information gained on the day will be taken forward and influence the work in coming years. The team will welcome any local historic information or links with the graves/memorials within the cemetery. Contact for the day: Ian Winter 07963 144128
Abbey Hall, Eye Heritage Open Day
Abbey Hall, Hoxne Road, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7NJ
Abbey Hall and grounds Eye Suffolk
Abbey Hall is set in 10 acres of water meadows on the site of the Benedictine Priory of St Peter which was razed in 1530.The former Abbey Farm Barn was listed at Risk in 1974 but has now been revived into a beautiful space for everyone to enjoy.
The house (The Abbey), and the bake and brewhouse (The Hall) were built from the rubble of the Priory in 1580.
The original roof was thatched but was destroyed by fire in 1910.
The Hall is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (30593) It has been roughly treated over the years in its use as a cattle barn, and has now been lovingly restored in the spirit of honest craftwork begun by the monks, in a way that maintains and enhances the magical sense of space and time in the spirit of the English Picturesque.
Eye Castle
35 Castle Street, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7AW
The room layout at the top of the Eye Castle
Eye Castle is one of the few surviving motte-and-bailey castles from the early Norman period. Built shortly after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, the castle was sacked and largely destroyed in 1265
Self Guided Walks around the castle. Within the site the town’s beacon is located. This was last used on June 2nd 2022 to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee.
With uninterrupted views across the Suffolk countryside offering a birds eye view of the towns church. The site is open all day and is an ideal place to picnic with the family or start your full Heritage day tour. End your tour here as the grounds are open beyond timed events in the town, Eye is not a place to hurry just enjoy.
Eye Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Eye Parish Church, Church Street, Hoxne Road, Eye, Suffolk, IP23 7BD
The church is one of the grandest in Suffolk, not only on the outside, but also with regards to the treasures within. The great flint-encrusted tower was rebuilt in the second half of the 15th century. The tower took over 40 years to build.
West face of the Eye Church tower
This is a premier church in a county of fine churches. The 101ft tower, with its array of elaborate flushwork, grand stone parapet, noble polygonal buttresses is a masterpiece of c.1450-88, displaying John De La Pole’s arms, as does the two-storeyed south porch, which has superb 15th century stone carving. The south doorway has Early English dog-tooth and stiff-leaf carving which is 200 years older. The fan-vaulting beneath the tower, the pinnacled, cusped and crocketed tomb recess of the 1300s, the south chapel parapet of Tudor brick and terra-cotta are just some of the architectural details to be savoured here.
Eye Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
Showcasing the Queens Head number 45 on the Eye Heritage Hike our one and only remaining Public House in Eye. They will be serving traditional Sunday Roast and from 4 pm Fresh Chicken Soup, Venison Casserole or a Vegetarian option with a great choice of beer, ale or wine
Eye Heritage Open Day would like to thank Susan Whymark Funeral Service Ltd for the roadside advertising boards for this event. Camstar Herbs Limited for the printed banners for each venue open on Sunday September 18th
Camstar Herbs Ltd Sponsor of Eye Heritage Day
Sponsor Susan Whymark Funeral Service Ltd
Something to finish the Eye Heritage Open Day, a talk by Tony Diamond ” Boudica in Eye ” take your seats for 6 pm in the Eye Town Hall
Boudica in Eye
Visit Eye Suffolk Heritage Open Day
Heritage Open Days ( click for further information )
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Events may change on the day more events may be added come back soon.