Riley Graves and Graveyard, Historic cemetery in Eyam, England.
Riley Graves and Graveyard is a cemetery on elevated ground in the Derbyshire countryside near Eyam, with multiple burial stones arranged across the site. The graveyard records a period of great loss when families were struck by plague in a very short timeframe.
The graveyard began in 1666 during a terrible plague outbreak that struck the community. Deaths occurred in quick succession as the disease moved rapidly through families living close together.
The graves recall the villagers of Eyam who chose isolation during the plague to protect neighboring communities. The site speaks to how ordinary people showed courage and care for those beyond their own village.
The site is open throughout the year and can be reached via Riley Lane on foot. Visitors should expect limited parking nearby and plan to walk to reach the graveyard.
Elizabeth Hancock buried her husband and six children here, carrying each body up the hill herself. Her personal act of care during an overwhelming crisis remains one of the most touching details connected to this place.
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