The history and antiquities of Eyam; : with a full and particular account of the Great Plague, which desolated that village, A.D. 1666. / By William Wood.

  • Wood, William (Screenwriter)
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The history and antiquities of Eyam; : with a full and particular account of the Great Plague, which desolated that village, A.D. 1666. / By William Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    near Eyani, a petrified snake coiled up in a ring, very perfect. It went into the collection of some eminent antiquarian, where it will, probably, be treasured as a very singular curiosity. Of this once living animal, it may be observed, that, while the mortal part of hundreds of generations has returned to its pristine elements, this reptile has retained its identical form through the lapse of un- numbered ages. A little more than thirty years ago, Mr. James Wood, Eyam, was engaged in cutting a large sandstone on Eyam-moor, when, to his utter surprise and astonishment, he found im- bedded in the stone a petrified fish about a foot in length. It was perfect in every part—gill and tail. This phenomenon tends to disturb some geological theories. But it is the Druidical remains, a little north of Eyam, which excite the liveliest interest in anti- quarians ; which remains prove, to a certain degree, the high antiquity of Eyam. All that tract of land called Eyam-moor, was, until its inclosure, literally covered with these relics of ante-historic times. The Druidical temple, or circle, on that part of the moor called Wet-withins, is frequently visited. It consists of sixteen oblong sandstones, standing in an upright position, forming a circle about thirty yards in diameter. The stones are nearly equal in size, standing about a yard high, except on the north side, where two or three are enveloped in heath, and therefore appear, though clearly visible, not so large as the others. This circle is still fur- ther distinguished by a circular mound of earth, about three feet high, in which the stones are placed. In the centre, there stood, until some years back, a large stone, which was, undoubtedly, the altar on which human sacrifices were made. c