Riley Graves and Graveyard

Riley Graves and Graveyard is a historic site located on Riley Lane in the parish of Eyam, dating from 1666. It consists of six gravestones and a table tomb, all enclosed by a stone wall made of gritstone and gritstone rubble. The wall features rubble copings and surrounds the gravestones, which are arranged in two groups.

On the eastern side, from south to north, the gravestones are inscribed with the names and burial dates of Alice Hancocke (buried August 9th, 1666), Ann Hancocke (buried August 10th, 1666), and William Hancocke (buried August 17th, 1666). On the western side, also from south to north, the gravestones are inscribed with the names and burial dates of John Hancocke Junior (buried August 3rd, 1666), Elizabeth Hancocke (buried August 3rd, 1666), and Oner Hancocke (buried August 7th, 1666).

To the south, there is a plain table tomb with sides inscribed with the words "HORAM, NESCITIS, VIGILATE, ORATE." The top of the tomb bears the inscription: "REMEMBER MAN, AS THOU GOEST BY, AS THOU ART NOW, EVEN ONCE WAS I, AS I DOE NOW, SO MUST THOU LYE. REMEMBER MAN THAN THOU MUST DIE." This site serves as a memorial to the entire Hancocke family, who tragically died of the plague.