The Plague Stone in York - England

 The Plague Stone in York - England 

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 A small stone on a moor, about a mile south of York's city walls, tells the story of how the city dealt with an outbreak of the plague, in times gone by.

They did this through isolation, and a crude version of disinfection.

 In 1604 an epidemic in what was then widely considered England's second city, prompted strict measures to protect the public from those unfortunate enough to have fallen ill.

To protect the other inhabitants, sufferers had to leave the walled city, and travel a safe distance away.

 Hob Moor, was a large, marshy tract of land to the southwest of the city’s outskirts, near what is now York Racecourse.
Victims took refuge in wooden lodges on the moor.

The plague stone stands next to the taller Hob Stone, which used to depict a knight.

The knight has been eroded over hundreds of years to the point that the warrior is scarcely recognisable, but you can still make out his decorated shield.

 It’s also unclear who exactly this effigy represents. According to the nearby plaque, he was a member of the Yorkshire de Ros family.

The 1717 inscription on the back, reads:

“This image long Hob’s name has bore
who was a knight in time of yore,
and gave this common to ye poor.”

Hob was a familiar form for “Rob” or “Robert,” perhaps giving us a clue to the knight’s name.

 The Plague stone was where food was delivered to the afflicted during the outbreak, according to the plaque next to it.

It would be picked up by the grateful recipients, at an appropriate distance from those who delivered it.

In the stone is a depression, where payment for the food was placed.

 It is thought that the indentation was filled with vinegar, to help prevent any transmission of the illness.

The liquid acted as a sanitiser for the coins, when the payment was collected.

The Tudor Intruders (and more)
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 Source - atlasobscura/hob-moor-stone-and-plague-stone.
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 The Hob Stone in York, with the plague stone next to it.