Riley Graves and Graveyard, Historic cemetery in Eyam, England.
Riley Graves and Graveyard is a small burial ground set on a hill in the Derbyshire countryside, a short walk from the village of Eyam. The site holds several grave markers spread across open ground, and it is listed as a Grade II protected site.
The graveyard dates to 1666, when the plague killed several members of local families in a matter of weeks. Because the village had cut itself off, the dead could not be buried in the parish churchyard, and families buried their own on private land.
The graves recall the villagers of Eyam who chose to cut themselves off from neighboring communities during the plague. Visitors from around the world come here to pay their respects, and the site remains a place of quiet reflection for those who walk up to it.
The site can be reached on foot via Riley Lane, and it is open all year round. Parking nearby is very limited, so it is better to plan a walk from the village rather than trying to drive directly to the spot.
Elizabeth Hancock buried her husband and six children here within just eight days, as no one else could help her. She carried or dragged each body up the hill on her own, and she never caught the plague herself.
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