Black Death

The Black Death reached Britain in 1348. It was a devastating epidemic of plague, causing rapid illness and widespread death. Its scale made existing explanations of disease seem urgently important, but people lacked the knowledge needed to identify its actual cause.

The Black Death reached England in 1348, and the epidemic spread during 1348–49. One striking symptom of bubonic plague was the appearance of painful swellings called buboes, often in the armpits or groin. People could become seriously ill and die within days, creating fear and an urgent search for protection.

The Black Death reached England in 1348, arriving on a ship that docked in Dorset after the disease had spread from Asia through Europe. Between 1348 and 1350, it is estimated to have killed between a third and a half of the population. The exact death toll is uncertain, but the scale of the disaster overwhelmed communities.