Mompesson's Well

Standing beside this unassuming stone well near Buxton, you might wonder what all the fuss is about. But Mompesson's Well marks one of the most extraordinary acts of self-sacrifice in English history. During the 1665 plague outbreak in nearby Eyam village, Rector William Mompesson convinced his parishioners to quarantine themselves rather than flee and spread the disease. This well served as one of the boundary markers where villagers would collect supplies left by outsiders, payment made through coins soaked in vinegar.

History enthusiasts will find this a proper pilgrimage site - the story of Eyam's plague village is genuinely moving. The well itself is modest, just weathered stones around a natural spring, but that's rather the point. It's the ordinariness of it that makes the heroism more remarkable.

Families staying at nearby Chatsworth Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite or North Lees Campsite will find it an easy detour when exploring the Peak District. The walk from the nearest parking is gentle enough for most ages, though younger children might need the story explained to grasp its significance. Combined with a visit to Eyam itself, it makes for a sobering but worthwhile half-day excursion into one of Britain's more haunting historical episodes.