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The town of Eye is always a pleasure to visit, it has that quiet charm and dignity that one expects of Suffolk's old market towns. Tucked away off the main A140 road and standing on the only high ground in the area, it is easy to see how it got the name of Eye, derived from an old Saxon word for island. This is a short walk to the south of the town in the River Dove valley, returning along the other side of the river and through the centre of the town. From the Cross Street car park turn left past the Queens Head pub to the brick and flint Town Hall, designed by the London architect E. B. Lamb in 1857. The bell in the clock tower is thought to be the original Sanctus Bell from the church. On the left is the Red House, a fine town house with 19th century red brick facade, both this and the White House next door once belonged to the Tacon family, local brewers. Walk along Lambseth Street and pause to look at the Bedingfield Almshouses, dating from 1850, the inscriptions read 'Believe right; Doe Well; Avoid Ill for Heaven, Amen; Povertie; Humilitie, Patience and Charitie'. Continue across the tributary of the River Dove to the long crinkle crankle wall on the left behind which stands Chandos Lodge built in 1811 and the home of Sir Frederic Ashton, one time director of the Royal Ballet. Return to the Fire Station opposite the almshouses and turn right on the signposted footpath. Where the path splits take the left fork up through the trees to the site of the former railway station, the red and white building was once Eye Station. Cross Magdalen Street and straight on down along the footpath around the Community Centre and across the car park to a footbridge and entrance to the Eye Town Moors Woodland. This is the Town Moors Storm Memorial, an area re-planted after the great storm of 1987 which devastated this former poplar plantation. The re-planting has created a new landscape and the various patterns and arrangements of the new trees are well worth exploring. Turn left on the path inside the edge of the woodland, and follow it to leave the end of the plantation via a concrete bridge, leading out to a track known as Moorhall Causeway. Turn right and, just before Moor Hall, bear left over a stile into a meadow. Keeping to the right edge, look out for a stile and footbridge on the left where the meadow narrows. This path leads in a straight line over a series of stiles and bridges, including the River Dove to Park Lane. Turn left and follow the track out to the Occold Road. Cross over and follow the path to the left of the hedge in the fields over a series of stiles to reach The Causeway. Turn left and follow the lane past the Pennings picnic site and Local Nature Reserve to reach the Hoxne Road. Turn left over the Abbey Bridge across the River Dove, walking on the roadside footway towards the town before turning right into Church Street. The magnificent church of St. Peter and St. Paul was mostly built in the 14th century, although there was a church here in the 13th century. The 30 metre high tower was finished in 1470 and the whole structure is built in a combination of local cut flint, imported limestone and brick. Inside is an intricately carved wooden rood screen with richly painted kings saints and bishops. The roof is partly painted and, like many other parts of the church, partly restored in 1869 giving an idea of what it would have been like in the Middle Ages. Next door stands the Guildhall dating from the 15th century. The building was much restored by the Victorians but the corner post still has its medieval carved figure of the Archangel Gabrial and two carved window heads intact. The Primary School dates from 1911 and carries the town's old coat of arms on the front. A grammar school was established here in 1495 to teach the seven sciences with lessons originally held in the Guildhall until school rooms were built in 1875. For a good panoramic view of the area a visit to the viewing platform at Eye castle across the road is well worth while. Continue along Church Street, opposite the arched entrance to the Buckshorn Lane car park is an opening leading to Vine Church. Walk along the length of Church Street to eventually reach the junction with Broad Street, opposite the Town Hall. Turn left through the market square noting the gothic style Kerrison Memorial, erected in memory of local benefactor Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison. Across the road is the former White Lion Hotel, a main stopping point and posting establishment on the coach journey from London to Norwich. Walk through the gap to the left of the Co-op store to The Cross to return to the start of the walk at the Cross Street car park. Fact FileLocation: Eye is 19 miles north of Ipswich, 11/2 miles off the A140 Ipswich to Norwich roadStart: Cross Street car park Ordnance Survey map reference TM 144739 Length: 2½ miles Conditions: Tracks/drives, pasture and roadside footway, 8 stiles (if all the gates are shut) How to get there: - Public Transport: For details telephone Suffolk County Council's Public Transport Information TraveLine - 08459 583358 Road Route: From Ipswich west and north on A14/A140, or from Norwich south on A140 Parking: Cross Street and Buckshorn Lane car parks Refreshments: Pub, shops and various facilities (including takeaways and restaurants) etc. Public Toilets: Cross Street car park Map: Ordnance Survey Explorer sheet 230 Diss and Harleston Walking on the web: http://www.anderton.btinternet.co.uk
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