The recent rise in Covid cases brings to mind the small Derbyshire village of Eyam.

In 1665 the country, especially densely populated London, suffered from the plague.

The following year the House of Lords met to discuss the situation. It was decided that the policy of confining infected persons within their household would not apply to “persons of note” and plague hospitals, such as the house on Fambridge Road, would not be established near the houses of the nobility.

Large numbers of the rich fled the capital to their country estates, unknowing or possibly unconcerned, if they took the disease with them.

Lying on a trade route from London to the north, the plague arrived in Eyam disguised in a parcel of cloth sent to tailor Alexander Hadfield. His assistant opened the parcel, found a large number of fleas and died a few days later. He was buried on September 7. So it began in Eyam.

The village had two vicars. Thomas Stanley had been dismissed for not taking the Oath of Conformityr and was replaced by William Mompesson.

As educated and devout men they gathered their flock out of doors and devised a strategy to save neighbouring villages from the epidemic.

A line was drawn around the village and people did not transgress.

Water troughs filled with vinegar enabled the villagers to pay for food delivered to the boundary line, as coins were deposited in them.

Victims were buried as soon as possible. The village suffered a high death rate - 260 dead out of 800 - but the plague did not spread to neighbouring hamlets. Their brave sacrifice is rightly remembered.

And it serves as a timely reminder today as we may draw parallels: People making a huge sacrifice in isolation and “people of note” driving the length and breadth of the country, spreading infection. Sacrifice and selfishness.

C Brewster

Plume Avenue, Maldon