In 1665 – 1666 the majority of the population of Eyam quarantined themselves
when the village was ravaged by the bubonic plague.

It is said that the plague arrived being carried by rat fleas in a baulk of cloth
that had been purchased in London where the plague was rife.

The villagers choose to stay where they were rather than risk spreading the disease across the county.

Two hundred and sixty villagers died. Whole families were wiped out.

On Good Friday 2006 the BBC broadcast a very moving musical play that had been performed
by a group of children and young people in St Lawrence’s Church.

We came today with strong emotions to pay our respects to those brave selfless people.
I was disappointed to find that, although there was no service in progress and the church was empty apart from a volunteer, photography was forbidden.
I offered to pay for a permit but without success.