Hampshire Devastated by the Plague - 50% inhabitants killed
would have been the headline in 1349 according to the speaker Roland Stott at the January meeting of the Barton-on-Sea Probus club, when he spoke to us about the impact of the plague on Hampshire in the mid 1300s.
When the plague hit Hampshire, over 50% of the population were affected as it hit all areas of the population, young and old, rich and poor, male and female. In the Winchester diocese, there were, on average, 11 or 12 vacancies for parish priests to be filled each year - in the year of the plague there were 315; at a time when they were over-run with additional calls on their time to hear confessions, give absolutions and conduct funerals. The Bishop of Winchester at the time declared the plague as “Gods reprisal for man's wickedness”.
Because of the shortage of labour at the time, some 30% of the land was not cultivated, leading to a lack of food, which led to an increase in the number of sheep and the start of the the export of wool.
Following the plague there was a major movement of the population as survivors travelled in search of work, wool exports soared, leading to importation of luxury goods, inflation and by 1350 the first devaluation of the currency. Despite all this it took until the mid 1500s before the population reached its pre-plague levels.
At our February meeting, Richard Dapoint will be talking on the History and Management of The New Forest.
Barton on Sea Probus club meets every month at Hoburne Naish for coffee, a talk, a drink and lunch. If you are a retired professional or businessman and would like to join us as a member, contact Terry Johns (01425 626 015) or look for details on www.bartononsea-probusclub.co.uk.
would have been the headline in 1349 according to the speaker Roland Stott at the January meeting of the Barton-
When the plague hit Hampshire, over 50% of the population were affected as it hit all areas of the population, young and old, rich and poor, male and female. In the Winchester diocese, there were, on average, 11 or 12 vacancies for parish priests to be filled each year -
Because of the shortage of labour at the time, some 30% of the land was not cultivated, leading to a lack of food, which led to an increase in the number of sheep and the start of the the export of wool.
Following the plague there was a major movement of the population as survivors travelled in search of work, wool exports soared, leading to importation of luxury goods, inflation and by 1350 the first devaluation of the currency. Despite all this it took until the mid 1500s before the population reached its pre-
At our February meeting, Richard Dapoint will be talking on the History and Management of The New Forest.
Barton on Sea Probus club meets every month at Hoburne Naish for coffee, a talk, a drink and lunch. If you are a retired professional or businessman and would like to join us as a member, contact Terry Johns (01425 626 015) or look for details on www.bartononsea-
