"Eyam - Derbyshire" Top 5 Page for this destination Eyam by bugalugs

Eyam Travel Guide: 44 reviews and 80 photos

A small village with a lot of history

Eyam is a beautiful village lying in the Peak National Park, approximately 12 miles from, Chesterfield, Buxton and Matlock. It is visited by many who come here to see the village which in 1665 was devastated by the plague.
Three hundred years ago it was a very remote and isolated village and was reached by rough and narrow tracks.

Ring a ring of roses

Ring a ring of roses
A pocket full of posies
Atishoo, atishoo
We all fall down.

This childrens rhyme refers to the signs of the plague on victims bodies. Posies were what they carried to try and ward off the disease. Sneezing was a sympton and once they fell they never got up!
Grim I know but that is what is said.
I actually did fall down whilst there. I had bought some postcards in the church and as we were about to leave the village in our car I saw the local post office, told my husband to stop, rushing to get out as I knew the closing time of the shop was imminent, jumped out of the car, got my leg stuck in the strap of my handbag and fell headlong onto the pavement in front of two extremely nice irish men on holiday who kindly helped me to my feet. Feeling somewhat a fool, I felt even worse when my husband told them I had had too much to drink!!!! :)

Sheep Roaster

This is a photo of a sheep roasting spit. It was apparently used when the village held fetes and a whole sheep would be cooked on it.

Pros and Cons

Pros:A very popular tourist spot
Cons:Parking is sometimes a problem, visitors must remember that people live here and to be considerate when parking.

Last visit to Eyam: May 2001
Intro Updated Jun 17, 2006
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Reviews (23)

Edensor and Chatsworth Off The Beaten Path (5)

Whilst visiting Eyam why not drive a little further on maybe 5 miles to see the village of Edensor and the stately home... more travel advice

A revolving spit Things to Do (16)

A revolving spit where sheep used to be roasted. This was probably done at village fares and then the people would eat... more travel advice

%NThe Miners Arms is the only... Hotels (1)

The Miners Arms is the only pub in the village and it also offers accommodation. It is reputed to be one of the most... more travel advice

Isolation Things to Do (16)

A decision was made to isolate the village in order to quell the plague from spreading to other villages and at the time... more travel advice

Restaurants (1)
Pantry

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Comments (23)

Gillybob Jul 28, 2010 at 1:50 PM Report Abuse

I love Eyam - its a real Derbyshire village with lots of history and some great buildings. Gillybob greetings
poppyfav Aug 12, 2006 at 7:59 PM Report Abuse

As a child stayed at Uncles farm nr Chesterfield so will visit Eyam on a trip to Eng.Try to visit interesting places and want to go back to this area,can't fit in this Sept.
keeweechic Jun 23, 2006 at 6:22 AM Report Abuse

nice updates Di, interesting about the nursery rhyme and more interesting that you fell after a drinking binge... do you often plan it at the feet of nice Irish men....lol
Ines28 Jun 21, 2006 at 9:16 AM Report Abuse

Nice updates! Maybe I should comment on the plague, but I prefer to say that I really love that cottage pic! ;-) Cheers! Ines
TheWanderingCamel May 16, 2006 at 8:13 AM Report Abuse

Always wanted to get to Eyam. Two really good reads about the village's time of plague are "Year of Wonders' and "A parcel of Patterns' - they really bring the story to life. leyle
RLFielding123A Apr 16, 2006 at 11:43 PM Report Abuse

Hi, nice pages on the Peak District. The line - 'a pocketful of posies' was said to refer to the smell given off by victims of the plague before they died. Macabre or what. Thanks Rob Fielding
tpal Dec 14, 2005 at 12:02 PM Report Abuse

Hi Dianne, One of the stranger "claims-to-fame" but I guess you go with what you've got. It sure puts chicken-flu in its place but I suppose its a vivid warning as well. Thanks for visiting my Buffalo page and for the tour of Eyam...Tom
kenHuocj Aug 23, 2005 at 7:08 AM Report Abuse

we live, surf VT and learn ;-)))
evaanna Nov 18, 2004 at 2:18 PM Report Abuse

I never knew what that children's rhyme meant. You can't find such things in a dictionary. Thanks for your interesting tips.
balfor Oct 11, 2004 at 5:42 AM Report Abuse

Very interesting page! Thank you for sharing it with us! :-)