“Now as I always say to my friends and family when they visit London, and to my tour guests, if you are standing in a park, a garden, a square, or a market, look around; because the only reason it’s there is because it’s a plague pit”

 

“If you are thinking about bloodletting, the first place that people’s minds often go to is to leeches. But if you thought about that, maybe in a past life, you were very wealthy. Because in order to afford leeches, in London, in the 17th century,  you would have had to get them from a very posh leech importer, and if so, you would have displayed them in a beautiful container. You may even have a plated silver or gold leech container that you kept in your pocket, and you might bring that leech container out, when you want to show off… You might fondle that leech container when you are talking to someone you fancy.”

 

Join Tour Guide Tell All for this mini-episode as we feature special guest Jessica O’Neil, a tour guide with our sister outfit Free Tours by Foot London, as she gives us the creepiest content for our creepy October/Halloween-themed pods.  Find out all about how the bubonic plague affected London, how they disposed of the dead, and how there are still designated “plague pits” scattered throughout London today.  

 

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Various visual aids for this creepy episode:

YouTube clip of various pictures of Charterhouse, London

Pictures of Plague Doctors

Historic UK Interactive Plague Pit Map

 

You’re Listening To: Jessica O’Neil

The Person Responsible for it Sounding Good: Dan King

Technical & Admin Work Done During Toddler Naptime: Canden Arciniega 

Intro/Outro Music: Well-Seasoned from Audio Hero