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Eyam
Eyam is a small Derbyshire village situated close to the Peak District, and it is most famous for being known as the "plague village" that opted to isolate itself from the rest of the country when the plague was discovered in Eyam in August 1665. The harrowing and bold tale has been immortalised in literature and has sparked the imagination of many writers, from Berlie Doherty who described the village in "Children of Winter" in 1985 and Jill Paton Walsh in "A Parcel Of Patterns" in 1983, through to 2001's "Year of Wonders" by Geraldine Brooks and 2006's "Kiss of Death" by Malcolm Rose. Historically Eyam was originally an Anglo-Saxon settlement, however recent archaeological excavations have revealed that the Romans may have inhabited the area prior to this. Of course many historical records describe how, in August 1665, the plague arrived in Eyam in the form of fleas living in a bundle of cloth that was delivered to George Viccars, a tailor from London.
This was the centre of the infection and whilst George Viccars was dead and buried within a week many more from surrounding houses and workplaces began to show symptoms of the plague. The rector of Eyam, Reverend William Mompesson along with the Puritan Minister Thomas Stanley undertook what was at the time extraordinary and brave steps to prevent the plague leaving Eyam and infecting surrounding settlements. Arrangements were made for the collection and burial of the dead that helped seperate families, and the entire village of Eyam was quarantined. Over the course of 16 months only 83 villagers remained from a population of between 400 and 800 individuals.
It was not until another 12 months after this that the residents of Eyam lifted their own quarantine and outsiders were allowed in to trade again. Eyam also played a key role in helping shape peoples understandings of infections, it was the first place where many noticed how infection seemed random with people who were heavily exposed to the plague (such as gravedigger Marshall Howe) not developing any illness. Modern technology allows us to understand that a small mutation present in some of the original Eyam settlers offered some protection from the plague and to this day this mutation is still the subject of much study in the scientific community as many believe that if the mutation is inherited from both parents it could provide some level of immunity to HIV and AIDS. In modern times Eyam is something of a tourist hot spot, and although its plague history has long since passed many still come to the area to visit such sites as the Coolstone, a stone where villagers placed money in exchange for food and medicine. The Miner's Arms is the only pub in the village, and there are a number of beautiful walks exploring the scenery around Eyam that can be enjoyed by daytrippers, holidaymakers and local residents alike.
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