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Eyam
The village of Eyam (pronounced Eem) is highly popular with tourists and is well known. The village finds itself snugly fitted in relative isolation deep in the heart of the Peak District surrounded by a rugged landscape of limestone hills and dales and sheltered from the north by the dominating prominence of Eyam Edge, is perhaps the most well documented and most visited of all Derbyshire's villages. The Eyam Edge is well known in the Peak District Climbing circles for spectacular views and rigorous climbing. Walkers also love the area and enjoy the hundreds of available Peak District walking routes.
Many residents are proud of Eyam's history as "Plague Village' and revel in telling the story of the sacrifice Eyam made during the plague. The story begins in September 1665 when a contaminated parcel of cloth from London was delivered to the lodgings of travelling tailor George Viccars. Within three days Viccars was dead and the Bubonic Plague, which was decimating London's vast population, began to spread through the village.
During August Carnival Week takes place where the village is awash with visitors. The annual Sheep-Roast takes place and the village is thronged by thousands of visitors. Several wells are expertly dressed and the entire village is festooned with colourful bunting, with events rounded off by the annual Plague Commemoration service, held on the last Sunday of August in Cucklet Delf.
An impressive feature in Eyam is the complete and unbroken 8th century Saxon cross which stands close by the tomb of Katherine Mompesson in the churchyard, which is regarded as the finest example of its kind in the county. Unusually the church has both Saxon and Norman fonts, some excellent Jacobean woodcarvings, including Mompesson's chair, and a unique sundial dated 1775 on the wall above the priest's door.
Eyam is typical of Derbyshire hill villages, with footpaths and walks in almost every direction, either through the village, redolent with age and the unique character of its well preserved and heroic past - or into the equally unique and absorbing surrounding countryside which shelters beneath the benevolent wooded slopes of Eyam Edge.
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