The Black Death in London

A comprehensive historical and archaeological account of the Black Death in England's capital The Black Death of 1348–49 may have killed more than 50% of the European population, and this book examines the impact of this appalling disaster on England's most populous city. Using previously untapped documentary sources alongside archaeological evidence, a remarkably detailed picture emerges of the arrival, duration, and public response to this epidemic and subsequent 14th-century outbreaks. Wills and civic and royal administration documents provide clear evidence of the speed and severity of the plague, detail how victims made preparations for their heirs and families, and illuminate the immediate social changes that the aftermath brought. The traditional story of the timing and arrival of the plague is challenged and the mortality rate is revised up to 50%–60% in the first outbreak, with a population decline of 40–45% across Edward III's reign.