EYE, a market-town and municipal borough in the Eye parliamentary division of East Suffolk, England, 941 m. N.E. from London on a branch from Mellis of the L.N.E.R. (Ipswich Norwich section). Pop. (1931) 1,733. The church of St. Peter and St. Paul of Perpendicular flint work, with Early English portions and a fine 15th century rood screen, was formerly at tached to a Benedictine priory. Fragments of a Norman castle crown a mound of probably earlier construction. There are a town hall, corn exchange and ancient grammar school. Brewing is the chief industry. The town is governed by a mayor, four alder men and 12 councillors, and has a separate commission of the peace.
Eye (Heya, Aye) was once surrounded by a stream, from which it is said to have derived its name. Leland says it was situated in a marsh and had formerly been accessible by river vessels from Cromer. From the discovery of numerous remains, it has been thought that the place was once the cemetery of a Roman camp. William I. gave the lordship to Robert Malet, a Norman, who built a castle and a Benedictine monastery which was at first subordinate to the abbey of Bernay in Normandy. Eye is a borough by prescription. In King John granted to the towns men a charter freeing them from various tolls and customs and from the jurisdiction of the shire and hundred courts. Later charters were granted by Elizabeth, James I. and William III. Two members were returned to parliament from 1571 till 1832, when the membership was reduced to one; in 1885 the repre sentation was merged in the Eye division of the county. The making of pillow-lace was formerly carried on extensively.