English village where lovers were separated by plague is now a haven for dark tourism
Over the centuries, the Peak District hamlet of Eyam has earned the moniker 'plague village', following the demise of 260 villagers within a span of 14 months.
The bubonic plague, which first swept across the globe in the 1300s, has claimed innumerable lives. A particularly catastrophic outbreak engulfed England in the 1660s, causing over 68,000 fatalities in London alone.
Eventually, this lethal contagion reached Eyam in the summer of 1665. In an act of self-sacrifice to safeguard neighbouring villages, the inhabitants of Eyam chose to isolate themselves from the surrounding settlements.
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A boundary stone, still visible today, was erected between Eyam, plagued by the disease, and the nearby unaffected town of Stoney Middleton.
At this stone, Eyam's residents would deposit vinegar-soaked money in exchange for food and medical supplies, provided by the people of Stoney Middleton.
Modern-day visitors to Eyam can witness the enduring impact of the plague, with numerous graves scattered throughout the village and adjacent fields. Families were urged to inter their deceased relatives near their homes instead of the church graveyard.
Jackie Todd, a recent visitor to Eyam, took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking love tale that has become woven into the folklore of the plague-stricken village of Eyam.
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A post shared by Jackie Todd (@jackietodd_)
In a video recounting this story from her visit, Jackie penned: "In 1665, the plague hit Eyam and they locked down the village, separating Emmott Sydall from her fiancé Rowland Torre.
"Once a week, Emmott and Rowland met at the village boundary, at a distance so he wouldn't catch the disease. One day, Emmott didn't show up. When the lockdown lifted, Rowland was one of the first to enter the village looking for Emmott."
She then displayed a plaque indicating that Emmott was tragically among those who succumbed to the black death.
The star-crossed lovers and their rendezvous at the village boundary have been eternally captured in a stained glass depiction visible in Eyam's St Lawrence's Church.
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