Black Death

“Christian men and women learnt to live with plague. Another thing they learnt was how to die of it” (Platt 1996, vii). When you study the Black Death and its aftermath, no statement seems more fitting. This chapter aims to illustrate the socio-economic consequences of the period Dyer describes as a “crisis” (Dyer 2002, Ch 7). Its impact on the arts, architecture and specifically, carpentry, will be analysed in both an archaeological and historical context. In doing so, it is hoped that this evidence will help illuminate the changing trends, in technologies and styles, employed during the 14th and 15th centuries, visible in the legacy left by carpenters of the late medieval period. The evidence presented in this chapter will outline much of what is now known of the period leading up to and including, the Black Death, the first half of the 14th Century AD.

The Black Death spread from Western Asia through the Middle East, North Africa and finally Europe between 1346 and 1353, “causing catastrophic losses of population everywhere” (Benedictow 2004, 3). Benedictow describes it as the “greatest-ever demographic disaster” which became known, by later historians many centuries later in Europe, as the Black Death, from the Latin atra mors, such was its impact on society, religion and folklore (Aberth 2001, 2; Benedictow 2004, 3).

Though the Black Death occurred over a relatively short period in England (c.1348-50), its influence on subsequent generations cannot be ignored (Bailey 1998; Dyer 2002; James 1999a, 1). Benedictow surmises that the Black Death entered England, through the Dorset seaport of Melcombe Regis (now Weymouth), during May or June of 1348, spreading rapidly throughout England and Ireland, primarily by sea trade or navigable waterways and, at a slower rate, over land (Benedictow 2004, 126-30). It is estimated that in excess of fifty percent of the population was wiped out by the epidemic and did not replenish fully, until well into the eighteenth century (Bailey 1998, 223; Dyer 2002, 233; James 1999a, 1; 1999b; Kitsikopoulos 2002; Van-Bavel 2002). This recovery was further hindered by smaller, localised plagues that continued, throughout England, into the sixteenth century such as the “mortalite des enfants” of 1361-2, so called because it mainly affected the youths, and again in 1369 and 1374 (James 1999b; McKisack 1959, 331). Knüsel suggests that the reason why the mortality rate was so high, during the initial outbreak, was due to humans having no prior immunity to the plague. This may explain why subsequent visitations did not effect such horrific mortality rates, as the population had developed partial immunity through surviving the initial outbreak (Knüsel & Margerison 2002, 134).

Towns seem to have been less affected by population loss than rural areas, as many migrated from the countryside to fill the gaps left by those who died, although many towns did decline, as seen in the archaeological record (Ottaway 1992, 209). Cantor posits England as one of the ‘worst-hit’ countries in Medieval Europe (Cantor 2002, 7). Much of what is known of the mortality rate in England can be derived from registries of institutions, a list made by the Bishop’s registrar of all ecclesiastical vacancies, in various parishes overseen by the relevant Bishops. Although this is only a guide, as to the death rate among Parish Priests, Benedictow presents a formula to apply this to general population losses (Benedictow 2004, 123-6).

Haddlesey, R 2008. “The Black Death”. British Medieval Architecture. (online) www.medievalarchitecture.net/black_death.html

A Black Death Discussion Group

For an interesting, if not controversial, take on the ‘Black Death’ and the early 14th Century in general, may I recommend;

Baillie M, 2006 New Light on the Black Death: The Cosmic Connection. Tempus, Gloucestershire. (Amazon)

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