Along with the Lantern Parade, the other outcome of the Digging Down, Building Up project was a heritage trail Leading up to the Eye Lantern parade.
This outdoor exhibition popped up across the village and it was there for 4 weeks and we estimate it was seen by at least 2,000 residents.
We installed the trail in some of the busiest places along the high street, the reason for this was so that everyone who used those spaces or passed them by could have a chance to connect to Eye’s history. Whether that was a quick read before getting the bus or whilst walking their dog.
The trail aimed to create a sense of pride, by shining a light on the everyday stories and voices of the everyday people that were part of Eye’s overlooked and unique working-class industrial and farming heritage – industries born out of the land on which it is built.
From farming to bricks and more.
The trail featured 6 information panels all about the recent working history of the village. To make them, we worked with local volunteer historians (Q-Eye Elves), Eye residents and partners such as London Brick Archivist and Peterborough Museum. Memories, stories and personal archives were gathered through ‘Memories of Eye’ cafes, lantern making workshops and 1:1 interviews in the first six months on 2024.
Each information panel focused on a theme that related to the main industries and their impact on Eye. These themes were; the brickworks, farming, social & sports, community, traditions and Eye’s national and global connections. The panels formed a trail through, Eye High Street and were seen at Eye Youth Club, St Matthews Church bus stop, at the Old House, the COOP, Eye Dental Care and at the Open Space which is at the back of the Manor Farm Community Centre.
There are also a set of ‘green plaques’ which have been installed in venues across Eye, like Sue Ryder and Sharon’s Snacks. – you can read about these further down the webpage.
Below are each of the information panels.
What else to look for?
We have also created 20 ‘green plaques’ that are based on the traditional blue plaques. Each plaque tells us an interesting fact about the history of the building or space. They are installed in homes, cafes, shops and venues across Eye. The plaques give small glimpses into the history of the village through those venues. This trail is meant to be discovered whilst you grab a coffee or buy your loaf of bread.
Interested to read more?
If you want to find out more about Eye’s heritage? If so, you can visit these two websites which are hosted by Eye. There’s lots more information to be discovered:
Eyepeterborough.co.uk
Eyeparish.org.uk
About Digging down, building up
Digging Down Building Up is being funded by Historic England’s Everyday Heritage grant programme (celebrating working class histories) and Arts Council England.
A big thanks to Fi Cifaldi, designer. David Fovargue, Andrew Smith, Anita Sambells, David Henson, Ian Brown, Tamar Moore, George Wilson, Andrew Short, Adam Miller, Andrew Mortlock, Dennis Denter and Family, St Matthews Church, Eye Parish Council, Manor Farm Community Association, Eye Dental Care, Coop England, Peterborough Museum, The Eye commissioning panel, Memories of Eye Facebook group, Peterborough Images and Historic England.
