Leprosy The dreaded disease of leprosy was once known in Britain. In the Middle Ages, lepers had to ring a bell or clapper to warn people to get out of their way. They hid their deformed bodies beneath hooded cloaks and wore leather boots, though many lepers lost their toes and had to limp around on sore stumps. A medieval legend tells of a crusader who returned to his home village of Stoney Middleton with leprosy. He was miraculously cured after bathing in a thermal spring and built a nearby chapel to give thanks for his recovery. A narrow window in St Helen’s church at Darley Dale is sometimes called the ‘lepers’ window’. Lepers’ windows were left open during services so that infected people could take part without going inside the church. A similar story from the Eyre Arms at Hassop tells of a ‘lepers’ sill’ built into a former outer wall. This enabled infectious customers to be kept outside, while the healthy ones enjoyed their ale in safety. Read More >> More Pictures Health and Sickness