Around the Village
Eyam is a small village located in the Derbyshire Peak District in England. In August of 1665 it was hit by the deadly plague and is famous for the brave steps it took in isolating itself from the rest of England to prevent the plague spreading and killing many more innocent people.
The village of Eyam is surrounded by beautiful countryside, the houses are built from local stone and the village is inhabited by friendly villagers.
On my second visit to Eyam I managed to speak to a number of villagers who were willing to tell us the tale of their house. These included the inhabitant of the "plague cottage" where the plague claimed it's first victim.
As you walk around the village you will notice a number of green and gold plaques. These plaques feature information on the various landmarks around Eyam.
In Eyam you can visit many attractions such as the church, hall and cottages. There are numerous walks in the surrounding countryside and areas to see such as graves, the delf and even historic attractions such as the Anglo Saxon cross dating back to 8th century, which is a Grade 1 Listed Ancient Monument.
Cucklett Delf was used as a place of worship during the plague of 1665 - 1666. A memorial service is held there annually, on Plague Sunday.
Please scroll down for more information!
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Some places in Eyam...
The Plague Cottages
These are the cottages where the plague broke out and where the first deaths of the plague were located. Each cottage has a plaque explaining the family that lived there and the affect the plague had on them. These cottages remain a constant reminder of the dreadful plague that swept the village claiming the lives of many and the brilliant efforts made by the villagers to stop the plague spreading. It was in the Plague Cottage itself where George Viccars opened that fateful package containing the deadly fleas that would doom the village of Eyam for the next year.
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The Lydgate Graves
The churchyard was banned during the plague so that people could not bury their dead, instead they had to bury the victims by themselves. Around the village you can find various graves and the Lydgate graves are where members of the Darby family were interred after falling victim to the plague.
Two small gravestones are dedicated to Mary and her father George Darby.
The graves are located on the edge of the village and are accessible to anyone, you can find them on maps of the village!
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Cucklett Delf
Cucklett Delf is not only a beautiful, peaceful sanctuary within Eyam, it also holds great historical significance. During the plague. William Mompesson brought the villagers down here to preach to them. He preached / spoke here in the open air to avoid the plague spreading, Not only did he hold the meetings / services in the open air, he also made sure that the villagers stood apart so that the infection could not be spread.
Because of this, the villagers received information used to prevent the plague spreading and were updated on the village's current situation. This was truly an ingenious idea!
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The Riley Graves
The Riley graves are a true sign of the courage that villagers showed during their ordeal. This is where Mrs. Handcock buried her husband and six children. At night, she dragged each of their corpses to this spot. They are buried overlooking the picturesque valley and the Peak District. The burial site is located up a small path at the edge of the village and is open to the public. The site is maintained by the National Trust and incorporates the graves of the six children (2 boys, 4 girls) and her husband.
