The pretty English village with a tragic past that's now a haven for dark tourism

One small village in Derbyshire has become a haven for dark tourism due to its rather tragic history, which dates back to the Black Death in the 1660s. In the centuries since, the Peak District town of Eyam has become known as the 'plague village' after 260 of the village's residents died in just one 14-month period.

The bubonic plague has killed countless humans since it first spread across the world in the 1300s, and one particularly devastating outbreak spread across England in the 1660s, killing over 68,000 people in London alone. Eventually, this deadly disease made its way north, arriving in Eyam in the summer of 1665. In order to protect the other villages around them, villagers in Eyam isolated themselves from the surrounding towns.

A boundary stone, which can still be seen to this day, was placed between the border of the plague-infected Eyam and the nearby town of Stoney Middleton, which was unaffected by this outbreak.

Here, residents of Eyam would leave money soaked in vinegar for food and medical supplies, which would then be left at the stone by the residents of Stoney Middleton.

Those visiting Eyam these days can see the marks this plague outbreak has left on the village, with numerous graves located in the village and the surrounding fields, as families were encouraged to bury their loved ones close to their home rather than in the church's graveyard.

It was Reverend William Mompesson and Puritan minister Thomas Stanley who set up these strict rules, also moving all church services outside and ensuring that no one could leave or enter the village.

Taking to Instagram, Jackie Todd, a recent visitor to Eyam, shared a tragic love story that's become part of the mythology surrounding the plague village of Eyam.

Retelling this story with a video of her visit, Jackie wrote: "In 1665, the plague hit Eyam and they locked down the village, separating Emmott Sydall from her fiancé Rowland Torre.

"Once a week, Emmott and Rowland met at the village boundary, at a distance so he wouldn't catch the disease. One day, Emmott didn't show up.

"When the lockdown lifted, Rowland was one of the first to enter the village looking for Emmott."

She then showed a plaque showing that Emmott was tragically among those who died from the black death.

The two lovers and their meetings at the village boundary have been immortalised in a stained glass image that can be seen in Eyam's St Lawrence's Church.