OLD MAN WITH A CAMERA
- HOME
- CONTENTS
- PHOTO GALLERY
- COMMENTS /FEEDBACK
- Hong Kong Street Art
- Gravesend, An Indian Princess and Tilbury
- Alcatraz : The Rock
- A Russian Tank in London
- TESTING PAGE
- Hastings Pier
- Postman's Park
- Tolpuddle Martyrs
- Gallery Index
- Gallery Myanmar
- Gallery Ship Canal
- Gallery Zurich
- Gallery San Francisco 01
- Village of Eyam
- John Babbacombe Lee The Man They Couldn't Hang
- Gallery Flatiron Building
- Others Index
- RICE PUDDING AND RADIO
- Romania, Vampires and Whitby
- CITY OF BUCHAREST
- BUCHAREST PARKS
- PELES CASTLE
- BRAN CASTLE
- BRASOV
- WHITBY
- WANCHAI BUILDINGS
- History
- TESTPAGE
- Salem : Witches Beware !
- SALEM ANSWER
- Salem Slide Show
- A Random walk around Toronto Sept 2018
- Stonehenge
- TEST TEST 01
- Sydney : Random Notes
- Freemantle
- PORTMEIRION
- Sydney : Random Notes
- IMAGE FIND PAGE
- PERTH - FLOWER STEALING KANGAROOS AND MORE
- BATH
- KEW GARDENS IN AUTUMN
- PERTH - FLOWER STEALING KANGAROOS AND MORE
- ALCHEMY
- PARIS SIGHTS
- Hobart : explorers, flags, yachts and a zoo!
- Frestonia - A Very British Revolution
- Gallery Template
- SAIGON SIGHTS 01
- EDINBURGH STORIES
- FRESTONIA
- FRESTONIA
Eyam - The Brave village
|
The Peak District in England is one of my favourite spots, rolling countryside and endless delightful villages and tea shops... It is a great place for hiking and has many attractions. If you are interested see this webpage.
Eyam is one of those villages and, if it was not for the events of 1665/6, it would probably be most famous for a very old Saxon Cross and the old punishment stocks (see later) which everybody photographs.
However, by a long way, Eyam is now known as the place where the inhabitants took an amazingly brave decision to quarantine themselves when hit by the plague epidemic, instead of running away which would have been the normal and understandable reaction. By sealing off the village, they knew that many of them would die but their sacrifice helped to prevent the spread of this fearful disease, saving countless lives.
Eyam is one of those villages and, if it was not for the events of 1665/6, it would probably be most famous for a very old Saxon Cross and the old punishment stocks (see later) which everybody photographs.
However, by a long way, Eyam is now known as the place where the inhabitants took an amazingly brave decision to quarantine themselves when hit by the plague epidemic, instead of running away which would have been the normal and understandable reaction. By sealing off the village, they knew that many of them would die but their sacrifice helped to prevent the spread of this fearful disease, saving countless lives.
The Plague
To be accurate, the term "Plague" only applies to a specific disease passed on to humans through fleas found on rats...rather nasty..right ?
In fact, some so-termed plague epidemics in history are now thought to have had different causes.
Whatever the terminology and exact diagnosis, the results were always horrifying.
In simple terms, such outbreaks normally killed 30-50% of the population concerned and, in some cases, even higher mortality rates were recorded.
Even with these numbers, it is believed that plague deaths often went unreported either because of wrong diagnosis or bribing of medical officials to have deaths recorded as less troubling illnesses. This would allow relatives to avoid quarantine requirements and, the "stigma" of the disease.
By the way, it was reported that the "cost" of having a cause of death altered on the official paperwork was approx USD300 in today's money and a drink of ale ( rather poor beer without hops)
Although, today, we have almost full understanding of how the plague developed and the pathology concerned, that was certainly not the case in 1665. All kinds of ideas on the causes were offered from a certain lining up of the planets to a punishment from God or even earthquakes on the opposite side of the world.
Another popular idea was the belief that the disease was caused by "bad air" and spread through the atmosphere (actually the plague cannot be passed without direct contact). This led to the burning of bonfires in the streets to clear the air and the wearing of very elaborate face masks, especially by doctors.
If you think that the plague is something only in past history, it is not. Officially around 1000-2000 cases per year are reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and this is probably an understatement as many outbreaks are are in remote areas. The disease is mainly confined to Africa, Asia and South America.
Only this week, as I write this story, a plague outbreak in Madagascar is being reported as having already caused the deaths of nearly a hundred people.
To be accurate, the term "Plague" only applies to a specific disease passed on to humans through fleas found on rats...rather nasty..right ?
In fact, some so-termed plague epidemics in history are now thought to have had different causes.
Whatever the terminology and exact diagnosis, the results were always horrifying.
In simple terms, such outbreaks normally killed 30-50% of the population concerned and, in some cases, even higher mortality rates were recorded.
Even with these numbers, it is believed that plague deaths often went unreported either because of wrong diagnosis or bribing of medical officials to have deaths recorded as less troubling illnesses. This would allow relatives to avoid quarantine requirements and, the "stigma" of the disease.
By the way, it was reported that the "cost" of having a cause of death altered on the official paperwork was approx USD300 in today's money and a drink of ale ( rather poor beer without hops)
Although, today, we have almost full understanding of how the plague developed and the pathology concerned, that was certainly not the case in 1665. All kinds of ideas on the causes were offered from a certain lining up of the planets to a punishment from God or even earthquakes on the opposite side of the world.
Another popular idea was the belief that the disease was caused by "bad air" and spread through the atmosphere (actually the plague cannot be passed without direct contact). This led to the burning of bonfires in the streets to clear the air and the wearing of very elaborate face masks, especially by doctors.
If you think that the plague is something only in past history, it is not. Officially around 1000-2000 cases per year are reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and this is probably an understatement as many outbreaks are are in remote areas. The disease is mainly confined to Africa, Asia and South America.
Only this week, as I write this story, a plague outbreak in Madagascar is being reported as having already caused the deaths of nearly a hundred people.
The Outbreak in Eyam
In September 1665, London was already a plague-ridden area although it is unclear how well this would have been known in Eyam, then a very small village of less than four hundred people and some 160 miles from the capitol.
There are numerous theories as to the arrival of the plague in England at this time. To those of you who know us Brits, you will not be surprised that a popular belief was that it was brought by French wool traders !!!
George Viccars (sometimes spelt "Vicars") was the first unfortunate victim in Eyam. He really was an unlucky guy. George was not a permanent resident of the village. He was a "travelling" tailor and was there just to help in a local tailor's busy pre-festival period.
George had a delivery of cloth sent to his lodgings from London and this cloth was damp and inhabited by plague-infected fleas.
Tragically, George attempted to dry the fabric by the fire and this released the fleas into the air and, thus, the plague began in Eyam
George, himself, was dead within hours or days, (depending on different sources) and, by December of the same year, a further 42 plague deaths had occurred. (being already approx 12% of the population.)
Of course, there was panic, fear and sadness. By the spring of 1666, things were chaotic and many people were thinking to run away from the area and who could blame them?
In September 1665, London was already a plague-ridden area although it is unclear how well this would have been known in Eyam, then a very small village of less than four hundred people and some 160 miles from the capitol.
There are numerous theories as to the arrival of the plague in England at this time. To those of you who know us Brits, you will not be surprised that a popular belief was that it was brought by French wool traders !!!
George Viccars (sometimes spelt "Vicars") was the first unfortunate victim in Eyam. He really was an unlucky guy. George was not a permanent resident of the village. He was a "travelling" tailor and was there just to help in a local tailor's busy pre-festival period.
George had a delivery of cloth sent to his lodgings from London and this cloth was damp and inhabited by plague-infected fleas.
Tragically, George attempted to dry the fabric by the fire and this released the fleas into the air and, thus, the plague began in Eyam
George, himself, was dead within hours or days, (depending on different sources) and, by December of the same year, a further 42 plague deaths had occurred. (being already approx 12% of the population.)
Of course, there was panic, fear and sadness. By the spring of 1666, things were chaotic and many people were thinking to run away from the area and who could blame them?
At this point, the local rector ( kind of parish priest), William Mompesson intervened with his proposals.
It would have been impossible to find a man less likely to persuade the villagers to do anything.
He was very unpopular with the locals. He was distrusted, having been sent to Eyam two years earlier to replace the popular incumbent Thomas Stanley.
Thomas had been pushed out of his position because he refused to use the so-called latest version of the Book of Common Prayer, introduced by King Charles II. He was living in a kind of exile on the edge of the village.
The detail is beyond the scope of the Eyam story but just to say Thomas was not alone as around 1000 church leaders would not adopt the latest changes in this publication, the purpose of which was to define exactly how church services should be conducted.
William understood his own position and knew that, acting alone, he would be unlikely to get any plans accepted by the village.
Therefore, he persuaded Thomas to stand with him when his ideas were presented to the anxious locals.
I was unable to find a picture of Thomas Stanley and only found this representation of their discussions. I am not sure where it is from but probably the excellent Eyam Museum
The Proposal
This was presented on 24th June 1666
The basic concept was very simple - No-one was to enter or leave the village during the epidemic. The place was to be completely quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease to neighbouring areas. An actual boundary of stones was placed around the village.
There were also 2 other parts to the plan.
1.
Families were to bury their own dead so that the clergy could focus on caring for the sick but alive.
2.
Church services were to be held outdoors so that the "safe" distance of 12 feet, thought to guarantee no plague transmission, could be maintained
It was also mentioned that food would be provided from outside by the nearby Duke of Devonshire and other sources.
Let's just pause for a moment to review what was happening..........
William Mompesson, probably the most unpopular person in this small village was asking his parishioners to abandon any idea of escape from the plague and risk their own lives and those of their families to save people in other villages whom they had probably never met.
He was also very young, being only 26 at the time of these events.
Surely, there was little chance of William's plan being accepted but somehow, these incredible, very ordinary villagers agreed to do what was asked.
Undoubtedly the presence of the better-liked Thomas Stanley helped but even so, I would love to know more about what was actually said on that day. From research, I only know that the meeting lasted quite some time and that there was much debate before final acceptance.
Any discussion as to why the villagers agreed to the proposal is speculative but, given their time in history, some possibilities can be offered.
Eyam was then a small place where inhabitants were inevitably close and used to acting in a common or group manner.
It was also, apparently, a very Christian community so, therefore, well familiar with the concept of sacrifice for a greater good. This also meant that, although William Mompesson might have been very unpopular on a personal level, he was still the official voice of the church at a time when this was listened to with a certain automatic, if reluctant, respect.
It could also be argued that there were some practical difficulties for the poorer people who considered leaving. Where would they actually go ? What would happen to their homes and crops if they left them etc etc ?
I like to believe that the practical issues were not really important on that day when these materially-poor but spiritually-rich villagers took the decision they did.
It is generally believe that the actions in Eyam prevented the plague from reaching the more densely populated northern cities where it would have led to unimaginable rates of death.
This was presented on 24th June 1666
The basic concept was very simple - No-one was to enter or leave the village during the epidemic. The place was to be completely quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease to neighbouring areas. An actual boundary of stones was placed around the village.
There were also 2 other parts to the plan.
1.
Families were to bury their own dead so that the clergy could focus on caring for the sick but alive.
2.
Church services were to be held outdoors so that the "safe" distance of 12 feet, thought to guarantee no plague transmission, could be maintained
It was also mentioned that food would be provided from outside by the nearby Duke of Devonshire and other sources.
Let's just pause for a moment to review what was happening..........
William Mompesson, probably the most unpopular person in this small village was asking his parishioners to abandon any idea of escape from the plague and risk their own lives and those of their families to save people in other villages whom they had probably never met.
He was also very young, being only 26 at the time of these events.
Surely, there was little chance of William's plan being accepted but somehow, these incredible, very ordinary villagers agreed to do what was asked.
Undoubtedly the presence of the better-liked Thomas Stanley helped but even so, I would love to know more about what was actually said on that day. From research, I only know that the meeting lasted quite some time and that there was much debate before final acceptance.
Any discussion as to why the villagers agreed to the proposal is speculative but, given their time in history, some possibilities can be offered.
Eyam was then a small place where inhabitants were inevitably close and used to acting in a common or group manner.
It was also, apparently, a very Christian community so, therefore, well familiar with the concept of sacrifice for a greater good. This also meant that, although William Mompesson might have been very unpopular on a personal level, he was still the official voice of the church at a time when this was listened to with a certain automatic, if reluctant, respect.
It could also be argued that there were some practical difficulties for the poorer people who considered leaving. Where would they actually go ? What would happen to their homes and crops if they left them etc etc ?
I like to believe that the practical issues were not really important on that day when these materially-poor but spiritually-rich villagers took the decision they did.
It is generally believe that the actions in Eyam prevented the plague from reaching the more densely populated northern cities where it would have led to unimaginable rates of death.
Progression of the Plague
After the quarantine commenced, the plague continued to strike down villagers reaching a peak rate of 5-6 per day in August 1666.
Whole families were devastated. One of the most commonly quoted cases is that of Elizabeth Hancock who lost her husband and 6 children in the space of 8 days.
After the quarantine commenced, the plague continued to strike down villagers reaching a peak rate of 5-6 per day in August 1666.
Whole families were devastated. One of the most commonly quoted cases is that of Elizabeth Hancock who lost her husband and 6 children in the space of 8 days.
Another victim was Catherine Mompesson, William's wife who had insisted to remain at his side throughout these terrible times.
In a small tight community like Eyam, everyone knew everybody else so every death was a tragedy for the village as well as for the direct family.
Concerning this point, 76 different families lost one or more members to the plague
On 1st November 1666, approximately 4 months after the quarantine declaration, a farm worker, named Abraham Morten became the last person to die of the plague in Eyam. Most reports say that the plague eventually ended because of harsh autumn weather but another key point is that the quarantine meant that the disease followed a brief lifetime as there were no fresh infections entering the village.
Accounts vary but, the usual death toll quoted for Eyam is 260 people from a basic population of 350 meaning that only 26% of the villagers survived their brave fight against the plague.
In a small tight community like Eyam, everyone knew everybody else so every death was a tragedy for the village as well as for the direct family.
Concerning this point, 76 different families lost one or more members to the plague
On 1st November 1666, approximately 4 months after the quarantine declaration, a farm worker, named Abraham Morten became the last person to die of the plague in Eyam. Most reports say that the plague eventually ended because of harsh autumn weather but another key point is that the quarantine meant that the disease followed a brief lifetime as there were no fresh infections entering the village.
Accounts vary but, the usual death toll quoted for Eyam is 260 people from a basic population of 350 meaning that only 26% of the villagers survived their brave fight against the plague.
Eyam and Immunity
There is an interesting modern follow-up to the Eyam story.
In 2000, a DNA analysis trial took place with the participants being descendants of villagers who had been in Eyam at the time of the plague and who survived.
Perhaps not surprisingly, descendants of these Eyam survivors carried a gene ( Delta-32) known to provide immunity against plague.
This research is not just academic since it is also known that this same gene, if inherited from both parents gives immunity to HIV/AIDS
So, even today, we are learning and possibly benefiting from the Eyam sacrifice.
There is an interesting modern follow-up to the Eyam story.
In 2000, a DNA analysis trial took place with the participants being descendants of villagers who had been in Eyam at the time of the plague and who survived.
Perhaps not surprisingly, descendants of these Eyam survivors carried a gene ( Delta-32) known to provide immunity against plague.
This research is not just academic since it is also known that this same gene, if inherited from both parents gives immunity to HIV/AIDS
So, even today, we are learning and possibly benefiting from the Eyam sacrifice.
Eyam Today
Proudly powered by Weebly