What happened here?
The Great Plague of London was one of the last major outbreaks of the bubonic plague in England. In 1665, it struck the city, causing the death of approximately 100,000 people, about 15% of London's population at the time. The disease spread rapidly, especially during the summer when temperatures rose. People tried to flee the city, but many were trapped in quarantine. The plague subsided with the arrival of cooler weather and the Great Fire of London in 1666.
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The Tolling of Plague Bells Across London
In April 1665, London awoke to spring, but with it came a threat the city knew all too well. Reports of new plague cases began to appear in the marketplaces. People looked with apprehension at the black crosses that appeared on the doors of houses where the sick were. The city, then home to about 600,000 people, began to transform into a place of fear and uncertainty.
Summer brought warm weather and with it the rapid spread of the disease. Trenches filled with the dead as cemeteries could not cope. People tried to escape, but the city gates were often closed to prevent the spread of the disease. The streets were silent, interrupted only by the sound of plague bells announcing more deaths. London became a ghost town, inhabited only by those who could not leave.
When autumn came, the death toll began to decline. Cooler weather slowed the spread of the plague, but it was not until the Great Fire of London in 1666 that many infected areas were destroyed, helping to halt the epidemic. The Great Plague left the city in ruins, but it also led to new sanitary measures that helped prevent future epidemics.
Where it happened
Coordinates: 51.5153, -0.1284 · View larger map
FAQ
In what year did Great Plague of London happen?
It happened: 1665.
What was Great Plague of London?
The Great Plague of London was one of the last major outbreaks of the bubonic plague in England. In 1665, it struck the city, causing the death of approximately 100,000 people, about 15% of London's population at the time. The disease spread rapidly, especially during the summer when temperatures ro
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