Medieval Britain and the people's health, c.1250-c.1500 - OCR BApproaches to public health in towns

Medieval towns were unhealthy places to live. However, it would be wrong to suggest that medieval town authorities did not care about public health. There are many examples of town councils or guilds trying to improve the environment, even before the Black Death hit.

Examples of towns attempting to improve public health

York

• In 1301, Edward I ordered the authorities in York to bring in regulations to keep the city clean.
• By 1500, York’s aldermen had banned people from dumping waste in the street and ordered businesses such as butchers, fishmongers and tanners to move outside the city walls. This also happened in many other towns.
• Latrines were built over rivers to carry sewage away, and dunghills were moved to the outskirts of the town.

London

• From 1293, rakers were employed to clear rubbish off the streets. Other towns had followed this example by 1500.
• From around 1300 onwards, the city introduced rules about where latrines were allowed to be built. This was because a latrine in Moorgate had leaked sewage to the surrounding area.
• London introduced more measures after the arrival of the Black Death. For example, in 1385, a warden was employed to ensure the streets and banks of the Thames were free of filth.
• In 1417, the city authorities closed the public baths during an outbreak of plague.
• In 1488, the butchers’ guild built an underground passage to carry waste from the shambles - a place where animals were slaughtered - to the Thames.

Norwich

• The town authorities tried to pressure people to keep the town free of filth and to prevent the spread of miasma.
• Between 1287 and 1289, they publicly named and shamed 16 citizens for polluting water and dumping waste.

Winchester

• In 1329, the town employed people to check the quality of all meat before it was sold.

Shrewsbury

• In 1276, the authorities in Shrewsbury raised money from its richer inhabitants to pave the marketplace. This made it easier to keep it free of mud and animal waste.