| Eyam | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Eyam Location within Derbyshire | |
| Population | 926 (2001[1]) |
| OS grid reference | SK220764 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | HOPE VALLEY |
| Postcode district | S32 |
| Dialling code | 01433 |
| Police | Derbyshire |
| Fire | Derbyshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Eyam ( /ˈiːm/)[2] is an English village and civil parish in the Derbyshire Dales that lies within the Peak District National Park. There is evidence of early occupation by Ancient Britons on the surrounding moors and lead was mined in the area by the Romans.[3] A settlement was founded on the present site by Anglo-Saxons, when mining was continued and other industries later developed. However, Eyam’s main claim to fame is the story of how the village chose to go into isolation so as to prevent infection spreading after bubonic plague was discovered there in 1665.[4]
In the later 20th century, the village's sources of livelihood largely disappeared. The local economy now relies on the tourist trade, with Eyam being promoted as "the plague village". Although the story has been kept alive by a growing number of literary works since the early 19th century, its truth has been questioned.
- ^ "Parish Headcounts: Eyam CP". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2007.
- ^ "Eyam in brief". eyamvillage.org. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
- ^ Bemroses' Guide to Buxton, Castleton, High Peak, Eyam, Dovedale etc. London: Bemrose & Sons. 1869. p. 58.
- ^ Skipalis, Brandi. "Construction of Heritage and Identity in the Plague Village: Examining the Intersections of Local Identity, Heritage Tourism, and Local Heritage Museum in Eyam" (PDF). University of Manchester. Retrieved 30 April 2020.