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Post by somersetstokie on Mar 11, 2020 11:29:06 GMT
There is a saying that suggests that there is nothing new in the world. Where I live there are constant reminders that we have been visited by plaques in the past and the current crisis is not something new. Today there are global fears about the spread of the infectious CoronoVirus which can develop into the more serious disease of COVD-19 and quarantine measures are being put in place.
Back in the 14th Century, when they used to give disease outbreaks much snappier names, huge areas of Europe were affected by the "Black Death" and populations were decimated. Where I live in Wells in Somerset the City was actually quarantined in 1348 because of the plague. The City became a no go area and a local tavern, on the Mendip Hills immediately outside the City, became the border which could not be crossed. Goods and trade were brought to this neutral point which was called "The Slab House Inn" as food and produce were laid out on a large stone slab specifically designated as the deposit or exchange point for food required for the City. In the area were also a number of "Plague Stones" which were hollowed out stone basins used to hold water, through which money could be passed and washed as payment for traded items.
The City of Wells Sheep fair was specifically moved out of the City to a fresh air site on the Mendips at Priddy where it stayed for over 600 years until being stopped quite recently, mainly for reasons of "Health and Safety!"
Wells was not the only area of the West Country to have population movement and gatherings restricted because of fears about the plague. Bristol became the First major medieval city in England to be hit by plague in 1348. The greater part of the City population was affected and left to its own, "grass grew several inches high in the town centre along High Street and Broad Street." The parson of the Holy Cross de la Temple had so many victims to bury that he enlarged his graveyard by an extra half acre (an acre then was bigger than it is now) without first getting a royal licence and subsequently had to beg for the King’s pardon.
In 1348 the authorities in Gloucester gave orders that no travellers from Bristol should enter the city. Many townsfolk in Gloucester fled to the countryside in panic, but the city ordered that they would be fined for every day of absence, fearing that if too many people left the city there would be insufficient people left to run the town. But, in spite of all their precautions, the plague reached Gloucester in 1349.
We can think ourselves lucky that we might hopefully be able to control the current outbreak of disease to some extent, but if I can avoid the need to "self isolate" and go into the City of Wells I will look at the reminders of its Medieval past and sincerely hope that 21st century control measures won't end up with the isolation of the City once again.
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Post by thequietman on Mar 11, 2020 12:34:25 GMT
I'm planning to self-isolate for 14 days in a decent real ale pub. If that's not allowed, I'll have to stay at home and watch all of the original Survivors series on Youtube. (Terry Nation - a fabulous writer).
"It concerns the plight of a group of people who have survived an apocalyptic plague pandemic, which was accidentally released by a Chinese scientist and quickly spread across the world via air travel"
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Post by mrcoke on Mar 11, 2020 15:30:58 GMT
As you travel around the UK countryside you see loads of old stone churches in isolated spots, with little or no residents in the immediate location.
Many arose because of the black death. All the residents by the church died or moved away (self isolated) and subsequently their homes made of wood, wattle and daub and decayed away leaving only the church built of stone to last.
Many graveyards are located on the east side of town so the stench of bodies is carried away by the prevailing winds and the richer area of towns are most often located on the west, unwind, side of towns.
The Spanish flu epidemic after the first world war killed more people than died in WWI.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2020 17:41:09 GMT
As you travel around the UK countryside you see loads of old stone churches in isolated spots, with little or no residents in the immediate location. Many arose because of the black death. All the residents by the church died or moved away (self isolated) and subsequently their homes made of wood, wattle and daub and decayed away leaving only the church built of stone to last. Many graveyards are located on the east side of town so the stench of bodies is carried away by the prevailing winds and the richer area of towns are most often located on the west, unwind, side of towns. The Spanish flu epidemic after the first world war killed more people than died in WWI. ..and WW2. |
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