Did you know that you are basically walking on one huge graveyard? Beneath the streets of London bodies of people that died from the plague are hiding – believe it or not.
As studies show, the plague killed around 15 percent of the population in London between 1665 and 1666. These are the percentages of only one year – and the plague continued more.
It is said that more than 1.5 million people in the UK died due to the ‘‘Black Death’’ and approximately 75 million around the world. Some of the symptoms were vomiting, fever, nausea, swollen lymph nodes, etc.
Originally, the bodies were buried in churchyards but once there was no room left for more and the percentage of the victims kept rising, people had to come up with alternatives. Certain areas around London were used for the burying of these bodies called Plague Pits.
This is a huge dark part of London’s history that forced change and building normal cemeteries outside of the city where the dead can rest in peace.
Unfortunately, most of these areas are not known to the public and there are very few pieces of evidence of their placements.
Still interested in the small percentage of found Plague Pits?
Some of them are the churchyards we previously mentioned and that’s why they are known.
This information is not that widely spread so many have no idea that there are corpses scattered all over London. Can you imagine having a picnic where once was a Plague Pit? Well, it’s not far from the truth.
– St Paul’s Church, Shadwell
This plague pit is confirmed to be one of the five pits located in Stepney, E1 3JX.
– Christchurch Gardens, Westminster
Made in 1640 so that it could provide more space for burials for St. Margaret, now it’s a public garden.
– Vincent Square, Westminster
Vincent Square, a property of the Westminster School and providing the students playing ground, was a former plague pit in the past. It was called Tothill Fields.
-St Dunstan’s, Stepney
The church of St. Dunstan donated land that needed to be used as plague pits. This land is now a dog walking area.
– Charterhouse Square, Farringdon
It is said that around 50,000 bodies were buried in the Charterhouse Square making it one of the largest plague pits in London. In March 2013 the area was dug and all remains were given to the Museum of London to excavate and study them.