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Timeline of Plagues

During the medieval period the population of Europe had been steadily increasing. After the Black Death had passed it is estimated that somewhere between a quarter and a half of the population were dead. This had severe consequences for society at the time. Many of the labourers who grew and harvested the crops were dead and the plants were left to rot in the fields. Labour became expensive and the prices of food and other necessities rose sharply. In England, to prevent uncontrolled inflation, Parliament passed a law known as the Statute of Labourers forcing workers to toil in the fields for the same pay as they did before the plague arrived.

1347

Kipchak Mongols besieging a Genoese trading centre on the Crimean coast catapulted their own dead into the city. The cause of death was a mysterious disease. The Genoese escaped by sea taking the 'Black Death' with them. They landed at Messina in Sicily. Black Death or Bubonic plague was spread by the rat flea. The name Black Death came from the colour of the swelling in the groin, armpit or neck. The person suffering went into a coma and dies soon after. In Europe an estimated 25 million people died. The plague reached Britain in 1348 and again in 1360 and the population may have been reduced by a half.

1348

The steady progress of the Plague westwards could not be stopped. The French king left the city for the relative safety of the countryside.But several of the royal family died including the King's niece Queen Jeanne of Navarre who had tended to the sick and had caught the illness herself.
The plague reached the shores of England first at Melcombe Regis in Dorset. By winter of the year, the plague had reached London.

1349

From the Chronicles of Meaux Abbey came the report saying 'Meaux Abbey suffered so severely that thirty-two monks, and seven conversi died, the majority being taken in the month of August.'
All apart from the abbot and prior died from the plague at the abbey of Croxton in Lincolnshire.
The peak of the plague was reached in the summer of 1349. Estimates of a third of the population dying from the infection have been made but being accurate is very difficult.

1361

Another outbreak of the plague takes its toll. In Avignon many people died including several Cardinals.

1369

Another outbreak of the plague affects England.

1406

A great plague took hold in London, killing upwards on 30,000 people.

1407

An outburst of plague occurred sometime between 1405 and 1407 and the pestilence was so great that, according to the St. Albans chronicler, in London thirty thousand men and women were reported to have died in a short space of time. Henry IV is thought to have left London to wait for the plague to die out.

1418

Within three months, 40,000 people in Paris were killed by the plague.

1498

Possibly 10,000 died from the plague in London this year.

1500

The plague arrived in England and affected London. The king escaped to Calais while the pestilence was at its worse.

1602

The plague was back in England. Many died in London and thousands in Norwich. In Norwich there was also a scarcity of food.

1603

A severe outbreak of the plague occurred in London and started a trend of yearly outbreaks during the summer months until 1610.

1626

The plague's affects had diminished in London

A Medieval Mystery

There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.

1: Location

Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.

2: Alignment

Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.

3: Size

Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?

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