Latest news with #Emmott
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Little English village attracting dark tourism after 260 deaths in 14 months
The Peak District village of Eyam in Derbyshire has become a dark tourism hotspot after 260 of the village's 350 residents died in just 14 months. A quaint English village has become a hotspot for dark tourism, thanks to its tragic history dating back to the Black Death in the 1660s. The Peak District town of village of Eyam in Derbyshire earned the moniker 'plague village' after a staggering 260 villagers perished within a 14-month period. The bubonic plague, which first wreaked havoc worldwide in the 1300s, had a particularly devastating outbreak in England during the 1660s, claiming over 68,000 lives in London alone. This lethal disease eventually found its way north, reaching Eyam in the summer of 1665. In a bid to shield neighbouring villages, Eyam's inhabitants chose to isolate themselves. A boundary stone, still visible today, was erected between plague-ridden Eyam and the nearby unaffected town of Stoney Middleton. Here, Eyam's residents would deposit vinegar-soaked money in exchange for food and medical supplies, left at the stone by Stoney Middleton's inhabitants. Modern-day visitors to Eyam can witness the lasting impact of this plague outbreak, with numerous graves scattered throughout the village and surrounding fields. Families were urged to bury their deceased loved ones near their homes instead of in the church graveyard, reports the Express. Reverend William Mompesson and Puritan minister Thomas Stanley were the ones who established these stringent rules, including moving all church services outdoors and ensuring no one could enter or leave the village. Jackie Todd, a recent visitor to Eyam, took to Instagram to share a heartbreaking love story that has become part of the folklore surrounding the plague-stricken village of Eyam. In a video recounting her visit, Jackie wrote: "In 1665, the plague hit Eyam and they locked down the village, separating Emmott Sydall from her fiancé Rowland Torre.A post shared by Jackie Todd (@jackietodd_)"Emmott and Rowland would meet at the village boundary once a week, keeping their distance so he wouldn't contract the disease. One day, Emmott didn't show up. "When the lockdown was lifted, Rowland was among the first to enter the village in search of Emmott." She then displayed a plaque indicating that Emmott was tragically one of the victims of the black death. The two lovers and their rendezvous at the village boundary have been immortalised in a stained glass image visible in Eyam's St Lawrence's Church.
Scotsman
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Michelin recommended Scottish fish restaurant to open in America
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Michelin-recommended Scottish fish restaurant is taking a swim across the Atlantic Ocean to open in America. The Fish Shop in Ballater, which gained a Bib Gourmand in the 2025 Michelin Guide, has opened in Washing DC, with the plan to be a welcoming restaurant and bar, where seafood, craftsmanship and art combine. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Designed to cater to local residents alongside the many seasonal visitors to the capital, Fish Shop will offer a modern, informal 180-cover restaurant and bar with three private dining rooms also available to hire. The original Fish Shop in Ballater, North-West Scotland, opened in May 2023. Within its first year, the venue was named as one of Conde Nast Traveller's Best New Restaurants in the World. It recently received a Michelin Bib Gourmand, as well as the inaugural Michelin Service Award. Now landed on The Wharf in Washington DC - significant as the site of the oldest open-air fish market in North America - Fish Shop will honour both its birthplace and the customs and culture of the Chesapeake Bay. Traditional fishing communities along the Potomac are celebrated, alongside local makers and artisans that draw inspiration from fishing and the seafaring community. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bee Emmott, chief executive of Artfarm, the firm behind the restaurant and also Braemar's celebrated Fife Arms hotel, said of the reasoning behind opening in the American capital: 'Fish Shop Ballater celebrates the heritage and traditions of fishing in Scotland with a deep commitment to championing sustainability at the core of every element. 'The Chesapeake Bay has an incredible reputation, as the largest estuary in North America and the third largest in the world. This area, coupled with Washington and the wharf in particular, as home to the oldest continually operating open-air fish market in North America, meant that it was a natural place for Fish Shop to land and for us to expand the concept here.' contributed Celebrating the heritage and traditions of fishing, Fish Shop has been created for those who enjoy freshly caught seafood that is ethically sourced. A low-waste restaurant, everything from fit-out to furniture, packaging to retail has been carefully considered, with sustainability at the core of every element. Ms Emmott said in the Fish Shop Washington, the firm had held onto its Scottish roots. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad She said: 'We collaborated with Scottish weaver Araminta Campbell who designed a custom-made tartan, which you see throughout the restaurant interiors. The woven wicker fish by Scottish artist Helen Jackson have made their way across the Atlantic and combined with basket woven wisteria fish by American artist Angela Eastman to create a stunning 200 fish shoal at the entrance to the bar and restaurant. contributed 'Russell Sage, who collaborated with us on Fish Shop Ballater and also the Fife Arms Hotel in Braemar, led the design. Like Ballater, the interiors have been crafted with a deep commitment to sustainability, with high eco-credentials across materials, furniture and lighting. 'Both Fish Shops feature tables made out of recycled plastic yogurt pots and a bar top made from recycled glass and beer bottles. Washington also has rugs made from recycled plastics and fishing nets, along with handmade seaweed pendant lamps. 'Our three private dining room tables feature tops from 200-year-old timber beams taken from a property on Troutman Street in New York and legs from decommissioned ships. Throughout the restaurant, items salvaged from old fishing boats fill the space, including singer Dean Martin's boat.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Fish Shop crab crumpets | contributed As in Ballater, the seafood-focused menu will be led by the seasons, making use of what is abundant and available from the Mid Atlantic area. Fish comes from a formed collective of day and short-trip boats using considered methods of take, including pound net, rod and line, and bow and arrow, potted crustacea and farm-raised mollusks. All meat and vegetables are responsibly grown by local farmers and purveyors. Hero dishes from Fish Shop Ballater, including their infamous crab crumpets, will feature when in season, alongside newly crafted dishes and bar snacks freshly prepared in an open kitchen. Fish Shop will also have a dedicated fish preparation room, dealing with whole fish to minimise waste and to allow chefs to cure, dry and age fish on site. Ms Emmott added: 'Our commitment to responsibly sourcing fish and other produce is crucial to both Fish Shops. In Washington the seafood focused menu will be led by the seasons, making use of what is abundant and available from the Mid-Atlantic area. Fish comes from a formed collective of day and short-trip boats using considered methods of take including pound net, rod and line and bow and arrow, potted crustacea and farm-raised molluscs. All meat and vegetables are responsibly grown by local farmers and suppliers.' contributed Menu highlights include: Tall Timbers rocks with 'nduja brown butter; Smoke in Chimneys smoked trout crumpets; Kombu cured fluke with blood orange, urfa chili, and crispy kale; Steamed clams with homemade sausage and chickpea ragu; Grilled striped bass with cauliflower, gnocchi and English peas; Woodson's Mill grits and ramp butter; 75 per cent Potomac chocolate ice cream with sea salt and Californian olive oil, and VA candied peanut tiramisu. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With the restaurant now open, Ms Emmott said the Washington customers had been 'so welcoming and excited for our arrival'. She said: 'We have had huge support from the local community of residents and businesses that we've met in preparation for opening. The enthusiasm is contagious, and we genuinely can't wait to welcome our first guests. 'The two restaurants are very different in scale – Ballater has 46 covers, whilst DC has over 180, and it's inspiring to see the team led by our operations director Angie and our executive chef Ria working their magic in the space.'
