-
 Plague Cottage The attractive village of Eyam (pronounced
E'em), has a number of interesting places to visit. Known as
the "plague village" it is famous for it's stand against
the bubonic plague of 1665, when infected cloth was sent from
London to a tailor, George Vicars, who was lodging at a cottage
near the church.
- The villagers
isolated themselves from the rest of the world to stop the plague
spreading. Their only contact with the outside was the payment for essential
goods. Supplies were left at the parish boundary and the payment
placed in small holes, cut in boulders, filled with vinegar to
disinfect the money.The disease spread through the village killing
259 people from a total of 76 families.
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- On the bleak
Eyam hillside, in the middle of a field, stand the 7 graves of
the Hancock family - Mrs Hancock buried 6 children and her husband,
a poignant reminder of the self - less act of the people of Eyam.
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- Today, one
of our nursury rhymes has a special significance to Eyam:
- Ring
a ring of roses
- A
pocketful of posies
- Atishoo
Atishoo
- We
all fall down
- A ring of roses
- a rash on the chest - was the first sign of the plague, the
posies relate to fragrant flowers that were used to cover the
smell of the infection and sneezing was the final stage of the
illness before death.
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- St Lawrence'
church at Eyam is the focal point of the village, with wonderful
16C wall paintings, and the finest Celtic preaching cross in
Derbyshire. Now standing in the graveyard, it was once a waysidecross
to the west of the village at Cross Low.
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 Eyam Hall
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- Across from the ancient
village stocks, Eyam Hall, home of the Wright family since 1676,
sits back from the main street behind a walled
garden. Entering through a fine wrought - iron gateway
visitors will see a wonderful Jacobean manor house with impressive
stone flagged floors and a tapestry room.
- Events are held at
the house throughout the year, from outdoor concertsto a Victorian
- style Christmas tour.
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