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Eyam Museum
![eyam_museum_with_its_rat_weathervane_[320x200].jpg](images/eyam_museum_with_its_rat_weathervane_[320x200].jpg "eyam_museum_with_its_rat_weathervane_[320x200].jpg") Eyam is famous, not only in Britain but world-wide, for the Bubonic Plague outbreak of 1665/6, when the inhabitants endured a voluntary quarantine to stop the spread of the horrific disease. Over a third of them died. Inspired by the collection of local historian Clarence Daniel, which Eyam Village Society inherited in 1987, a small group of dedicated volunteers began to work towards the establishment of a permanent museum. Eyam Museum opened in 1994 with a small display to tell the story of the community from prehistoric times to the present day, with emphasis on the tragic events of 1665/6.
We received one of the first batch of lottery grants in 1995, and this enabled the museum to reopen in 1997 on two floors with a completely re-designed and much extended display, giving a deep insight into the plague story. It also tells of the village's early history, and the manner in which it recovered from the plague, with the growth of local industries such as cotton, silk, shoes, quarrying, and lead (and more recently, fluorspar) mining. There is also an explanation of the local geology, and the display includes some very fine local fossils and minerals. A dramatic model of an early lead mine was added in 2002. Recent fascinating research into the nature of the disease is discussed in a series of additional displays.
Some of the 1997 panels which had, surprisingly perhaps, become out of date in the light of recent research, were replaced for the 2007 season. We also managed to find room for some new ones covering some of the recent controversy over the nature of the disease. We continue to change and expand as new information comes to light.
Eyam,Derbyshire
Vivid portrayal of the outbreak of the bubonic plague in Eyam when over a third of the population died. Subsequent growth of local industries is described, together with local geology
The Website for the museum is www.eyam.org.uk
Our opening dates for 2008 are 18th March - 2nd November
Admission: Adults £1.75, OAP's and children £1.25, family £4.25
Tel: 01433 631371
![last_days_of_john_daniel_[320x200].jpg](images/last_days_of_john_daniel_[320x200].jpg "last_days_of_john_daniel_[320x200].jpg") ![black_rat_[320x200].jpg](images/black_rat_[320x200].jpg "black_rat_[320x200].jpg")
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