Eye, Cambridgeshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eye |
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 Eye parish church of St.Matthew's |
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 Eye
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| OS grid reference | TF2202 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Peterborough |
| Postcode district | PE6 |
| EU Parliament | East of England |
| UK Parliament |
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Eye is a village in England. It is located in the area of Peterborough, which is part of Cambridgeshire. Eye is about 3.8 kilometers (2.4 miles) west of Thorney. It is also about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) south of Crowland. Both Thorney and Crowland are known for their old abbeys. A small area called Eye Green is just north of Eye. It is separated from Eye by the A47 road.
Contents
Eye's History
The Story Behind Eye's Name
The name Eye comes from an old English word, ēg. This word meant "island" or "dry land in a marshy area." So, Eye was likely a dry spot surrounded by water or wet ground long ago. In the 900s, people spelled the village name "Ege."
Important Buildings in Eye
There has been a chapel in Eye since at least the year 1543. The church you see today is named after Saint Matthew. It was built in 1846 by George Basevi. Ten years later, a tall, pointed tower called a broach spire was added. It was about 38 meters (125 feet) high. For safety reasons, this spire was removed in the early 1980s. Now, the church tower has a roof shaped like a saddle.
Next to the churchyard, on Back Lane, is the old village fire station. It was built in 1826 and once held a fire engine. The fire station closed after 1945. In 2011, the local council repaired it.
Eye also had a very tall windmill called Eye Cornmill. It was an eight-story building with eight sails. It stood about 69 meters (75 yards) from the church.
From Brick Pit to Nature Reserve
The village of Eye used to have a brick pit. This was a quarry where clay was dug up to make bricks. The brickworks even had a social club. When the brickworks closed, a diving club took over the pit and buildings. It became a national dive site. Later, the buildings were taken down. Now, this area is a nature reserve. It is a place where nature can grow freely.
Eye's Railway and Memorial
Eye Green railway station opened in 1866. It was originally just called Eye. This station was on the railway line between Peterborough and Wisbech. It closed in 1957.
The Eye war memorial is carved from granite. It was put up in 1920 at the Crowland Road cemetery. This memorial honors 41 people from Eye who died in the First World War. Later, the names of 14 people who died in the Second World War were added. In 2016, the memorial was given a special Grade II-listed status. This means it is an important historic building.
How Eye Has Changed
Eye was once part of the Soke of Peterborough. This area was in Northamptonshire until 1965. Then, it became part of a short-lived county called Huntingdon and Peterborough. Since 1974, Eye has been part of the City of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
In 2016, a new local area was formed called the Eye, Thorney and Newborough ward. This area covers about 133 square kilometers (51 square miles). It elects three local councillors.
A new road, the A47 Eye bypass, opened in October 1991. It cost about £7 million and is about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) long. In recent years, Eye has grown a lot. Many new homes have been built because more people want to live there. This fast growth caused some local residents to be concerned. Between 2001 and 2011, the number of people living in Eye grew from under 3,900 to over 4,400.
What Eye Offers Today
Eye has many useful facilities for its residents. These include a doctor's office (GP surgery) and a dentist's office. There is also a library and a community center. For older residents, there is a care home. The village has a household recycling center and a cemetery. Kids and teens can enjoy the skate park. Eye also has various shops and restaurants. There is a Church of England primary school located on Eyebury Road.
See also
In Spanish: Eye (Cambridgeshire) para niños
