The Great Plague of 1665-1666 began in the overcrowded parish of St. Giles in the Field. By the end of the epidemic, 68,596 deaths were officially recorded in London; although, the capitalâs true figure is likely closer to 100,000. At the time, many believed in the miasma theory- disease spread from smelling the âbad airâ released from waste and decomposing material, while others believed it was a punishment from God.
Those who were able to leave the city did, including King Charles II and his Court. The poor remained behind in cramped, unsanitary conditions, which exacerbated the spread.
The government introduced some measures to prevent the plague from spreading, including âshutting upâ (quarantining) plague victims in their homes for 40 days, marking their home with a red cross and having it guarded by a watchman. Public gatherings were also banned during this time and fires were lit in the street âto correct the airâ affirming the belief breathing smoke was better than miasma.
Pictured is an excerpt of the Bills of Mortality which is currently on display as part of the library's 'From Squalor to Sanitation' exhibition. It recorded the deaths during the plague and was published weekly. 7,000 Londoners died in a week at the plague's peak.
Diseases and casualties 15-22 August 1665. Image courtesy of the Wellcome Collection. Public Domain.
Read about the exhibition here.
