The Black Death 1348

The following is a timeline of the Black Death as found on the BBC Website.

How the plague spread around the British Isles

Most historians are willing to agree that the Black Death killed between 30-45% of the population between 1348-50.

• 1317: Great Famine in England
• May 1337: Declaration of the Hundred Years War by Edward III.
• June 1348: Black Death arrives at Melcombe Regis (Weymouth)
• Aug 1348: Black Death hits Bristol
• Sept 1348: Black Death reaches London
• Oct 1348: Winchester hit - Edendon's 'Voice in Rama' speech
• Jan 1349: Parliament prorogued on account of the plague.
• Jan-Feb 1349: Plague spreads into E. Anglia and the Midlands.
• April 1349: Plague known in Wales.
• May 1349: Halesowen hit.
• 18th June 1349: Ordinance of Labourers.
• July 1349: Plague definitely hits Ireland.
• Autumn 1349: Plague reaches Durham. Scots invade northern England and bring back plague with them.
• Spring 1350: Massive outbreak of plague in Scotland.
• Sept 1350: First pestilence dies out.
• 9th Feb 1351: Statute of Labourers.
• 1361-64: Second Pestilence: 'The Plague of Children'.
• 1367: Birth of Richard II in Bordeau.
• 1368-69: Third Pestilence
• 1371-75: Fourth Pestilence (variously dated 1371 or 1373-5)
• 1381: The Peasant Revolt

The plague returned in a series of periodic local and national epidemics. The plague only finally stopped at the end of the Seventeenth century.

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It is believed the type of plague that arrived in Britain during 1348 was the bubonic strand which changed to be the pneumonic strand of the disease. It was quick to spread and was not really understood hence the rapid spread of the disease.  


The spreading of the plague was not helped by unsanitary conditions which were prevalent at the time in big cities. This included throwing human waste outside in the street and not keeping their livestock where they should have been kept. Water from the river was also polluted. In these conditions, it is easy to see how the disease spread so quickly and fiercely. 

The plague originated overseas, coming to England by the ships that were trading. The journey is as shown:

Fleas carrying the plague liked the Rats. The Rats liked the ships. The ships came to England. The Rats came off. The Fleas got bored and found new food. 

The Fleas were spreading the bubonic disease which then changed into the Pnuemonic plague. 

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This youtube link I found explains the plague perfectly along with the symptoms and outcomes. 

This Video is just a little fun. 

It is important for students to know that this was a major disaster for the country and that everyone was effected. These videos would be used in line with a discussion about how people caught it and whether there was cure.


Another way that the knowledge can be given to students is through role play. Some one being a rat, a flea etc. 
It might also be a good idea to do some kind of cycle poster to show the process of the spread.