The small Derbyshire village has become a dark tourist haven due to its rather tragic history dating back to the death of black people in the 1660s. Since then, the town in the Peak district of Eaum has become known as the “Pest Village” after 260 of the villagers have died in just 14 months.
The Boubonic Plague has killed countless people since it first spread around the world in the 1300s. In the 1660s, a particularly devastating outbreak spread across England, killing more than 68,000 people in London alone. Eventually, the fatal disease proceeded north and arrived at Airm in the summer of 1665. To protect other surrounding villages, the Aerem villagers isolated themselves from surrounding towns.
The boundary stones seen to this day were placed between the boundary of Aam, which was infected with the plague, and the town near Stony Middleton, which was not affected by the outbreak.
Here, the residents of Airm leave money soaked in vinegar for food and medical supplies, which is left in stone by the residents of Stony Middleton.
Recent visitors to IAm can see the marks markings that this epidemic outbreak remains in the village. There were numerous graves in the village and surrounding fields, and families were encouraged to bury their loved ones near their homes rather than in the church cemetery.
It was the Rev. William Montpesson and Puritan Thomas Stanley who set these strict rules, moved all church services outside and prevented anyone from leaving or entering the village.
Taking her to Instagram, Jackie Todd, a recent Eyam visitor, shared a tragic love story that becomes part of the myth surrounding the village of the plague.
Telling the story in a visit video, Jackie wrote:
“Once a week, Emott and Roland met far away on the village boundary, so he was not ill. One day, Emott did not appear.
“When the lockdown was lifted, Roland was one of the first people to enter the village looking for Emott.”
She then showed plaques indicating that Emott became tragically tragic among those who died in the death of black people.
Their meeting at the village boundary with their two lovers is immortalized with stained glass images that can be seen at St. Lawrence Church in Aam.
