Eyam

is a village in Derbyshire, England. I took grandson to see it because the school had covered the village in a history lesson and he does like a trip out on a Saturday, spot him if you can!

This is the church of St Lawrence. In 1665 the Rector was William Mompesson and extra duties came his way that year. The village tailor took delivery of a parcel of cloth sent from plague-ridden (the Black Death) London. The package was home to fleas carrying the disease which spread through the village killing around 260 of the 350 inhabitants.

The Rector had the presence of mind and force of will to persuade the villagers to stay put and not retreat to other places and risk further spreading the disease. He lost his wife and children. Villagers would tour round with carts calling "bring out your dead". The outbreak petered out by November 1666.