In the heart of the Peak District, north of Bakewell, lies a village which appears like any other you’ll find in this national park. With pretty stone cottages and narrow streets, the village of Eyam certainly doesn’t look out of place.
Yet take a wander around this village and you’ll notice strange clusters of gravestones in odd locations, signs for ‘plague cottages’ and morbid skull and crossbones symbols carved onto graves. Visit here on Bonfire Night and instead of an effigy of Guy Fawkes being burned, you’ll see a giant rat. These all hint at Eyam’s dark history, and how it earned the name the ‘Plague Village’.
During the bubonic plague of 1665-1666 the village became known for its self-imposed lockdown, which helped to prevent the spread of the disease to nearby populations, at the cost of more than 250 lives of Eyam residents.
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The plague arrived in Eyam with a delivery of flea-infested cloth from London, sent to a local tailor. A few days after opening the package his assistant George Viccars succumbed to the disease, which soon spread throughout the household.
Residents looked to Eyam’s two reverends, William Mompesson and Thomas Stanley, for guidance and they set out drastic measures to help stop the spread of the plague. A boundary was set up around the village, isolating its inhabitants from the outside world and ensuring that no one could enter or leave.
People were urged to bury the dead as soon after death and as near to the place of death as possible, to prevent further spread of the plague. Church services were also held in a naturally-formed outside amphitheatre, in a 17th-century version of social distancing.
Supplies were delivered to the village by placing them at the boundary line, and the residents left money in a well soaking in vinegar in an effort to disinfect them. According to a church in Eyam, 273 individuals died from the plague, and some families were entirely wiped out.
The villagers’ efforts have since played a vital role in how societies deal with the outbreak of infectious diseases, while studies have been conducted looking into the genes of the descendants of the survivors. Eyam recovered following the plague as it became a centre for the manufacture of shoes and silk, as well as the mining of fluorspar.
Today Eyam relies mainly on tourism and you can still see many of the features which define this place as the Plague Village. As you walk around you’ll spot plaques on various cottages dedicated to the former residents who succumbed to the plague, while St Lawrence Church has a stained glass window which recalls the actions of the villagers.
Just outside of the village are the Riley Graves, where Elizabeth Hancock buried her husband and six of her seven children. To the south is Cucklet Church, the rock formation where the outdoor church services were held. You can also see Mompesson’s Well, where the villagers left coins for supplies.
A walk around Eyam is full of atmosphere and it’s impossible to ignore the rich history of the village. Centuries on from its lockdown, Eyam welcomes visitors to learn about its past, as well as enjoy the beautiful countryside which surrounds it.
Take a relaxed stroll through the village itself, stopping off for refreshments at Eyam’s cafes and pubs, including The Miners Arms, a cosy 17th century pub. For a longer walk follow a five mile route which takes you out of the village via the Riley Graves to the nearby village of Stoney Middleton.
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