Penelope Harnett is one of our members. She writes………

I was interested in hearing about Ronald Hutton’s experiences in Eyam since my father was Mompesson’s 22nd successor and we lived in the old Georgian Rectory at Eyam  (Mompesson was the Rector at Eyam who co led the quarantine). This building was definitely haunted by Mrs Mompesson who died in the Rectory in August 1666.  She was a very aimable ghost who made her presence felt.

It was living in Eyam which generated my fascination for history  –  so many of the villagers had ancestors who had died of the plague  and that history created all the village traditions which were still practised.

We had great celebrations in 1965/1966 with a son et lumiere in the church and an outdoor play performed in a quarry both directed by L du Garde Peach of Ladybird fame who was a friend of my fathers.