38. The Black Death: London's First Plague

The Black Death in London was the city’s first devastating plague — and even after 671 years, its impact can still be traced in London’s streets, cemeteries, and historical records.

In this episode of the London History Podcast, Hazel Baker is joined by City of London guide Ian McDiarmid to explore how the Black Death arrived in London, how it spread, what medieval Londoners believed caused it, and how the authorities responded as half the population died within nine months.

☕ Grab a cup of tea and join us for a deep dive into London during the Black Death, from plague pits and emergency cemeteries to myths, mortality rates, and lasting consequences.

🕰️ Timestamps
00:00 🎙️ Welcome & overview of the Black Death in London
00:30 ☕ Meet your hosts: Hazel Baker & Ian McDiarmid
01:20 🌍 Scale of the pandemic in London & Europe
02:10 🩸 Bubonic, pneumonic & septicaemic plague explained
03:00 🐀 How rats & fleas spread Yersinia pestis
04:20 ⛪ God’s punishment & religious processions
05:15 🌫️ Bad air, miasma & astrology theories
06:10 📚 How the plague got its name
07:30 🧹 Street cleaning & royal ordinances
08:20 🚫 Movement restrictions & trade controls
09:10 ⚰️ Emergency cemeteries in London
10:05 🏺 East Smithfield cemetery discoveries
11:20 🧬 Demographics: adults, juveniles, mortality rates
12:30 🏗️ Burial practices & shrouds
13:40 📉 Population collapse & shortage of labourers
14:30 💰 Rising wages & commodity prices (salt example)
15:20 🏙️ Long-term impact on London’s society
16:10 ❌ Misconceptions about the Black Death
16:50 ✅ What we actually know from historical sources
17:40 📖 Recommended reading & scholarly references
18:30 🏰 Westminster Abbey plague memorials
19:10 🎉 Podcast milestone: 20,000 downloads
19:50 💌 Share & subscribe for more London history
20:13 🔔 End

🧐 What You’ll discover
✅ How the Black Death reached London
✅ Why it was called the “Black Death”
✅ Bubonic, pneumonic & septicaemic plague explained
✅ What medieval Londoners believed caused the plague
✅ How authorities attempted to control the outbreak
✅ Emergency cemeteries at East Smithfield & West Smithfield
✅ Archaeological evidence from plague pits
✅ How the plague changed London’s population & economy
✅ Myths vs facts about medieval burials
✅ Why the Black Death still matters today

🗝️ Keywords
Black Death London, London plague 1348, medieval London history, bubonic plague London, Black Death podcast, London history podcast, plague pits London, East Smithfield cemetery, medieval disease London, Yersinia pestis, City of London history, medieval life London, London Guided Walks

🏷️ Hashtags
#BlackDeath #LondonHistory #MedievalLondon #LondonPlague #HistoryPodcast #BubonicPlague #PlaguePits #CityOfLondon #LondonGuidedWalks #HistoricLondon #MedievalHistory #ArchaeologyLondon

📚 Recommended Reading
📖The Black Death. Translated and edited by Rosemary Horrox. Manchester Medieval Sources series.
📖The Black Death. Philip Ziegler. The History Press.
📖The Black Death 1346-1353. The Complete History. Ole Benedictow. Boydell.
📖The Black Death in London. Barney Sloane. The History Press

🏙️ About The London History Podcast
Hosted by London tour guide and historian Hazel Baker, the London History Podcast explores the fascinating, mysterious, and sometimes dark stories that shaped Britain's capital city. From medieval legends to Victorian scandals, from royal palaces to haunted underground stations, we uncover the hidden history beneath London's streets.

🔗 Connect With Us
🌐 Website: https://londonguidedwalks.co.uk
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🐦 Twitter: @guided_walks
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🚶‍♀️ Book a London Tour
Experience these stories in person! Hazel Baker offers expert-led walking tours through historic London. Visit londonguidedwalks.co.uk to book your tour today!

Видео 38. The Black Death: London's First Plague канала London Guided Walks