The Winchester Plague Memorial Cross

Years ago, I used to write all sorts on here about holidays, weekends away and days out. The truth is, I don’t get to do any of that any more. It’s been almost a decade since I had even a short holiday close to home. Last weekend however, I had two cancellations due to tourists… Continue reading The Winchester Plague Memorial Cross

Top 10 worst London (and global) pandemics in history

The current Coronavirus is just the latest in a really long line of pandemic outbreaks with London getting more than its fair share of them as it always does for good and for bad.  It isn’t much consolation as we all wait this thing out and the lucky ones get through it but it’s worth… Continue reading Top 10 worst London (and global) pandemics in history

A piss-poor history of urine

I’m going to try not to use the P word too much in this post, as tempting as it is as that would be taking the Pee but urine has actually had a long history of practical uses especially in medicine. None other than Pliny the Elder back in Rome  recommended fresh urine for the… Continue reading A piss-poor history of urine

When the Plague came to London

This time of year in Britain at least is known as the Flu season. Our highly changeably though at this time of year predominantly chilly and wet weather combined with some particularly overcrowded cities means that we are perhaps uniquely exposed cold and flu.  In fact last year was the first year in over 10… Continue reading When the Plague came to London

Eyam – The Plague Village of Self Sacrifice

Of all the posts I have written in the last year or so, one of the most popular has been on The Black Death or The Plague as it is known. This week it was revealed the archaeological work continues right beneath the streets of one of the busiest parts of London with the graves… Continue reading Eyam – The Plague Village of Self Sacrifice

Plague victims discovered in London and The Black Death

In recent days it has become clear that whilst building London’s new cross-rail project, archaeologists have found a mass underground burial.  It is suspected that the remains of these people are the unfortunate victims of The Plague or Black Death as it is often known as. Despite the rather stupid questioning from TV news presenters,… Continue reading Plague victims discovered in London and The Black Death