The Great Plague of London

The Great Plague of London, which occurred in 1665-1666, was the last major epidemic of the bubonic plague to hit England. It killed an estimated 100,000 people, which was roughly a quarter of London’s population at the time.

1. Origins and Spread:

• Bubonic Plague: Caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria, this disease is typically spread through the bite of infected fleas that lived on black rats.
• Initial Cases: The outbreak is believed to have started in the parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields outside London’s walls in late 1664 or early 1665.
• Spread: As spring and summer progressed in 1665, the disease spread rapidly through the city, carried by fleas and possibly human lice.

2. Symptoms and Diagnosis:

• Initial Symptoms: Fever, headache, chills, and muscle pain, followed by the appearance of painful, swollen lymph nodes, known as buboes.
• Progression: Some victims experienced respiratory failure, septicemia, or gangrene.
• Mortality Rate: The disease was lethal, with many victims dying within a week of contracting it.

3. Impact on London:

• Quarantine: Houses with infected individuals were marked with a painted red cross and were quarantined, locking in both the sick and the healthy.
• Mass Graves: Due to the high number of deaths, many victims were buried in mass graves.
• Economic Impact: Trade suffered as London became a virtual ghost town. Many businesses collapsed, and prices of goods skyrocketed.
• Social Impact: Many wealthier families fled the city, while those who remained faced fear, loss, and immense hardship.

4. End of the Plague:

• Great Fire of London: In 1666, the Great Fire destroyed much of the central city. While it was a disaster in its own right, it may have helped end the plague by killing off many of the rats and fleas that spread the disease.
• Winter: The cold winter months also played a role in reducing the flea population.
• Natural Decline: Like many epidemics, the plague began to diminish as those infected either died or developed immunity.

5. Legacy and Memory:

• Documentation: The events of the plague were documented by writers such as Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe, providing detailed accounts of the crisis.
• Scientific Understanding: The plague spurred advancements in medicine and public health. It wasn’t until centuries later that the bacterial cause of the disease and its transmission via fleas were understood.
• Cultural Impact: The Great Plague left an indelible mark on London’s history, influencing art, literature, and public consciousness for generations.

The Great Plague of London stands as one of the most devastating events in the city’s history. Its impact reshaped London in numerous ways, both tangible and intangible, and served as a somber reminder of the vulnerability of even the mightiest of cities to the forces of nature.