Nature’s Great Beyond blog picks up on an interesting tale from London’s East Smithfield (that little-known area just north of St Katharine’s Docks).
A new study in PNAS suggests that the ‘Black Death’ of 1349 was not the indiscriminate killer suggested by many sources.
Possibly not a real plague victim
By studying human remains, scientists concluded that the weak and infirm were more at risk than the fit and healthy.
Well, duh! – I hear you say.
But it isn’t so counter-intuitive as you might think, as the New York Times points out.
This is a subject close to my heart. Or, rather, my bed. You see, I recently spent the night in the company of some 17th Century plague victims.
It started when a cache of bones was unearthed in old warehouses beneath London Bridge, and dated to the mid-1600s. Since the discovery, builders working on the site—soon to be the London Bridge Experience tourist attraction—have reported strange occurrences, and some refuse to enter the building.
Not so your intrepid Nature Networker. Armed with a rational mind, and a good bottle of wine, I arranged to spend a night amongst the corpses, some still in situ. The full account, and spooky video, can be found on Londonist.
Blimey Matt,
You don’t half get up to “interesting” things.
Why no spooky music on the video? That would have certainly given it added value :-(
You were lucky that the curators didn’t play a trick on you and toyed at not letting you out again – LOL
Exploring the sealed off bits of London is a bit of a hobby of mine. I went down an old abandoned Tube station last week!
I think it’s creepier without music – especially when the whistling starts.
Well, we were locked in to all intents and purposes. No security or anything.
Spooky, but I thought you might say something “I think it’s creepier without music”
With regards to this hobby, rather you than me matey.
There’s quite a few spooky sights as you know in Edinburgh. We cruised round some of them yonks ago.
How does one go on such exciting adventures? Not sure if I’m up for spending the night with bones but a bit of exploring might be nice…
Simple: I just ask.
If anyone has any suggestions for curious London places you’d like me to investigate (sciencey or otherwise) just suggest them here and I’ll go for it.
Y’know, I could’ve really used a warning for this post, as in “The images contained herein may make you spit up your morning coffee.” That would’ve been good.
Very cool night you had though. Any lasting effects? Nightmares? Buboes?
Sorry Anna. You should have seen his friends.
No lasting effects, other than an inability to stop talking about the experience.