London plagues 1348–1665
Many people have heard of the Black Death of 1348 and the Great Plague of 1665: both terrible outbreaks of a disease which killed thousands of Londoners. However, it is less well-known that these famous outbreaks are only two of nearly 40 that London suffered between 1348 and 1665.
A major outbreak of the disease struck roughly every 20-30 years, killing around 20% of London’s population each time. There were lesser outbreaks in-between the major ones and sometimes the disease could continue for several years in a less serious form.
- Introduction (this page)
- What is ‘plague’?
- The Black Death, 1348–1350
- Other London plague outbreaks
- The Great Plague of 1665
- What effect did the Great Plague have on Londoners’ lives?
- Further information
Download 'London Plagues 1348–1665 (PDF, 324KB)
