In Time of Lockdown: Reflections on Locks, Lockdown, Isolation

Lockdowns and Isolations in Previous Pandemics Arthur Braxton (CO Re) The Great Plague of London began in 1665 and ended in 1666. It was largely eliminated by the Great Fire of London, and it was the last significant outbreak of bubonic plague to occur in England. This particular outbreak was responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths in just over a year, but it was not the first time the plague had struck. The Black Death had struck Europe and North Africa between 1346 and 1353. It is the largest pandemic ever recorded and is thought to have killed approximately 1/3 of Europe’s population! The plague re-emerged every few years throughout history until the mid-18th century, since when its outbreaks have been much reduced. Modern sanitation and healthcare have reduced its impact, but not eradicated it entirely; WHO (World Health Organisation) estimate that 1,000 to 3,000 cases still occur each year. These devastating deaths throughout history have all been caused by one bacterium, Yersinia pestis.

After the Black Death of medieval England, London continued to suffer outbreaks almost every decade. It is estimated that up to 20% of the population died each time.

When the Great Plague of 1665 struck, England imposed laws to try and prevent the spread and isolate those with contagion. All public entertainment was banned, people were forcibly locked into their homes and red crosses were painted on the doors of those thought to be infected.

The very sick were locked in their homes and often left untreated whilst the dead were buried in mass graves. At the time of the Black Death in the Venetian-controlled port city of Ragusa, the spread was slowed by isolated arriving sailors until it was clear that they did not carry the disease. This was initially done for 30 days and extended to 40 and was considered the safest period of time. This 40-day stretch is where our modern term quarantine is derived from.

The great diarist Samuel Pepys provides us with some of the most detailed information on The Great Plague and how society was affected. Pepys recorded the arrival of the plague to London in June 1665 and wrote of seeing the deserted streets that he would normally see bustling with life. There was no formal lockdown, but people did not leave their houses. Pepys wrote ‘about us, two shops in three, if not more, generally shut up’. He also records the disruption to travel the plague caused, and whilst he voices his concern about using the water taxis, he recognises that the boatmen suffer a much greater risk than he. He writes, ‘I could not get my Waterman to go elsewhere for fear of the plague’, and goes on to later record, ‘I did not go by water with them yesterday for he fell sick on Saturday night, and it is feared to be of the plague’. A regular diary entry is Pepys seeing bodies in the street: “I walked to Greenwich, in my way seeing a coffin with a dead body there in”.

His own physician died as did some of his acquaintances.

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