Historian and CovSoc member, Peter James, tells us how the plague affected Coventry over centuries. Peter writes….
The first plague epidemic known as The Black Death initially appeared in Europe in 1346. Originating in South East Asia it spread along the Silk Road into the Middle-East, North Africa and then Europe. The bubonic plague secured a foothold in Southern France before reaching England in 1348. By 1353 it had been responsible for the deaths of over 50 million people.
Outbreaks in Coventry
Fourteenth Century
In April 1349 the plague was recorded in Coventry and during that summer spread through the City and Warwickshire. Queen Isabella had granted land in Cheylesmore c.1348 for a new suburb. The programme was delayed because of the effects of the disease. The Manor House of Queen Isabella eventually overlooked what became Cheylesmore Park. This manor house was built originally between 1230 and 1237 for the Earl of Arundel.
A second outbreak was first registered in London in the Spring of 1361 reaching the Midlands by September. It appeared to have a higher death rate in younger fit people so may have been a mutation. The overall death rate in Warwickshire was estimated at around 20 per cent of the population.
Sixteenth Century
A fresh outbreak in 1571 delayed the planned building of Bridewell – a house of correction. It was eventually built in the Bablake district and finally opened in 1580. The disease seems to have subsided by 1579 but plague death totals were not always recorded so precise numbers affected are not available.
An outbreak between 1603 and 1605 reached epidemic proportions in Coventry with 494 deaths. This represented a high percentage of the city’s population at that time. St. John’s Street suffered extremely badly with most residents dying.
Seventeenth Century
The annual Lammas feast was cancelled in 1626 due to another outbreak. £20 was distributed amongst the poor instead. By this time the population of the city had fallen to around 8,000 after peaking at around 15,000 at the beginning of the 15th century.
The Great Plague of 1665/6 had devastating consequences for Londoners in particular. Coventry did not escape and would still have faced major health challenges. Thankfully by 1680 England was largely unaffected by further outbreaks of the plague.
“Plague Pits” were mass graves dug in fields due to overcrowding in graveyards and were used extensively during the medieval outbreaks. They were generally located outside the city walls. Excavations after the Second World War are reported to have discovered a massive plague pit in Cheylesmore. However there appears to be no archaeological evidence.
“Pest Houses” were introduced in the same period to isolate the sick. These were also typically on the outskirts of the city with one location being known as Dead Lane, formerly known as St. Giles Road in Ash Green to the north of Coventry.
Eighteenth Century
Between 1742 and 1760 a different type of epidemic was to cause economic disruption and hardship in Coventry and Warwickshire. Cattle Plague (rinderpest) was responsible for death rates of animals as high as 90%. The virus affected cloven hoof animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and deer. This had a serious impact on meat and dairy production and subsequently prices, causing many farmers to go out of business.
Summary
Plagues in Coventry had a devastating effect on the population, economy and social structure often leading to a high mortality rate, economic disruption and the need for significant rebuilding. The decline in Coventry’s population was severely affected by plagues. Its dependence on the wool trade in the 15th and 16th centuries was also a significant factor.
The eighteenth century saw Coventry experience a significant growth in population with silk weaving becoming the main industry.