Wild, Thomas, accountant, Bungay road
Woods, William, shopkeeper, Chediston street
Woodward, Francis, banker’s clerk, Pound street
Wright, James, plumber, glazier, and painter, Market-place
EYE.
Eye. An ancient borough and market town, occupies a low situation at the confluence of two rivulets, 20 miles N.E. of Ipswich, 24 S. of Norwich, 94½ from London through Colchester and Ipswich, and 3½ from the Mellis station of the Eastern Union Railway. It contains 4,174 acres, and the population in 1851 was 2,419. General Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., of Oakley Park, is lord of the manors, and proprietor of the greater part of the soil. The market is on Tuesday for corn, &c.; and a fair is held on Whit-Monday for pleasure. Through the energetic exertions of Mr. Henry Bishop and Mr. Robert Chase, of this town, assisted by Sir Edward C. Kerrison, Bart., M.P., of Broome Hall, a new era has dawned on the place by the erection of a flax manufactory on such an extensive scale, as to be capable of giving employment to a great number of hands. Here are breweries and an iron foundry. The town is governed by a mayor, 4 aldermen, and 12 councilmen; and has a Commission of Peace, and Court of Record. Petty sessions are holden here. It returns one Member to Parliament; and the present member is Sir Edward Clarence Kerrison, Bart.
The public buildings include the parish church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, a large, handsome structure, with a fine embattled tower, clock, and a handsome Gothic porch. The living is a vicarage, valued at £331 per annum. Sir Edward C. Kerrison, Bart., is the patron, and the Rev. James William Campbell, M.A., the incumbent. There are Wesleyan and Baptist chapels; likewise a Free Grammar and National Schools. The Hartismere Union Workhouse, a neat building, stands at the east end of the town, near the church.
The Freemasons have a Lodge (Prince Edwin, 751) held at Mrs. Rowling’s, White Lion Hotel. There is a town hall, and a small theatre, now occasionally used for lectures. The Eye Savings’ Bank and Annuity Institution is held at Mr. Henry Bishop’s, in Broad Street, who is Secretary and Manager; and in November, 1851, there was due to 1,184 depositors the sum of £28,177 1s. 7d. At the north entrance of the town stand Bedingfield’s almshouses, for poor widows or old maids of Eye, which have been rebuilt by the charity trustees, and have a picturesque appearance.
Gas Works, Magdalen street, Mr. John Waterman, superintendent, h Lambeth street.
Gurneys & Co., bankers, Edgar Chenery, Esq., solicitor, agent, Broad street