NOBLE STORIES OF PANDEMICS PAST

THE Derbyshire village of Eyam is famous for cutting itself off from its neighbours when the bubonic plague, known as the Black Death, struck. By the time the disease had run its course in 1666, 260 people – 18 from one family – had died.

The local rector William Mompesson asked his parishioners to stay put rather than risk spreading the plague to nearby towns of Sheffield and Bakewell. They amazingly agreed to remain and live with the prospect of death. The Earl of Devonshire, whose home was at Chatsworth, supplied food during the length of their deadly self imposed quarantine. Among the dead was the rector’s 27-year-old wife.

A less famous example of self sacrifice during the same period, was at Hepworth, when the population was about 100, where infected cloth caused an outbreak. A barricade was erected to divide the village and they, too, waited for the plague to do its worst.

Thirteen people lost their lives to ensure the infection did not spread.

The village still has 13 trees to remember them and each year their sacrifice is remembered with the Hepworth Feast and Plague Commemoration which was due to take place last week but was cancelled because of Covid-19.

The Black Death first arrived in Europe in the 14th century when it killed an estimated 30% to 50% of the population of Europe.

It returned periodically and in the 17th century struck again.

It’s a story that puts the present pandemic into perspective.