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| Eye |
Eye's history dates
back to Roman times. A small agricultural town south of Diss
that sits on the River Dove.
William Malet built Eye Castle on the only high ground in north
Suffolk. The castle was attacked in 1173 by Hugh Bigod, Earl
of Norfolk. Although the attack failed it did result in the
castle being rebuilt. During Henry VIII's reign the Castle and
the nearby Eye Priory (founded by William Malet's son) fell
into disuse.
Eye offers a number of attractive and historic buildings and
streets which can best be appreciated on foot by following the
"town trail", The town does not have it's own tourist
information centre however copies of the "trail" can
be obtained from local shops or Stowmarket Tourist Information
Centre.
To visit nearby:
Wingfield College on the B1117 then B1118 from Eye, medieval
building, Great Hall and gardens. Tel: 01379 384888.
Upon his death in 1361 Sir John de Wingfield left his manor
house at Wingfield to be established as a college. In 1542 the
college was dissolved and handed over to the Bishops of Norwich
who leased it to a series of tenants and during this time a
large part of the building was demolished.
The remains were remodelled over the years and a Georgian appearance
hid the 14th century building. In 1971 Ian Chance acquired the
College and during restoration work revealed once more the 14th
century structure.
Wingfield College now runs regular concerts, recitals and lectures.
In addition there are exhibitions of ceramics, textiles and
contemporary art and a creative arts, visitor centre is now
open.
The College sits in 4 acres of delightful gardens, which include
ponds, old roses, garden sculpture and a children's play garden.
Wingfield Castle is a fortified manor house surrounded by a
moat that was built in 1384. The gatehouse and part of the wall
still survive, however it is privately owned and not open to
the public. It can be seen from Wingfield Green, on the Wingfield-Syleham
Road.
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| Celebrity Connections |
Ballet dancer and choreographer
Sir Frederick Ashton had his home at Chandos Lodge until his
death in 1988.
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| Where to Stay |
Cornwallis Country Hotel,
Rectory Road, Brome, Eye, IP23 8AJ
Nestled in over twenty acres of gardens The Cornwallis hotel
oozes with charm. Interesting features include Yew topiaries
and a 60 foot well.
The Four Horseshoes,
Wickham Road, Thornham Magna, Eye, IP23 8HD
12th Century inn situated in the village of Thornham Magna.
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