Burnings, Butchery & Black Death: Londons Bloody Past

London’s past is steeped in a dark and violent history. From the notorious sites of public spectacle like Smithfield Market, where brutal executions and animal butchery once thrived, to the mass graves of Cloth Fair that echo the grim realities of the Black Death – the city’s macabre heritage is vividly illustrated. Delving into these haunting landmarks, one can uncover the squalor and violence that once defined the city, as captured by Dickens’ chilling portrayals. What other secrets lie buried beneath London’s streets?

Key Points

• London’s Smithfield Market had a grim history as a site of brutal livestock slaughter and public executions, leaving an eerie atmosphere.
• Public executions at St. John’s Gate involved methods like hanging, burning at the stake, beheading, and disembowelment, causing prolonged agony.
• Cloth Fair, once the site of England’s largest livestock market, also witnessed mass graves for plague victims and executions during the city’s dark past.
• St. Bartholomew the Great, a 12th-century priory church, played a role in caring for the sick during the Black Death, reflecting the area’s turbulent history.
• Ely Place, depicted in Charles Dickens’ "Oliver Twist," was a notorious slum with squalid living conditions, rampant crime, and societal breakdown.

You can check availability for your dates here:

Smithfield Market: A Slaughterhouse’s Legacy

One of the earliest stops on the tour is Smithfield Market, which has a long and bloody history as a site of slaughter and public execution.

For centuries, the open-air market witnessed the gruesome butchery of livestock and the grisly executions of criminals and heretics. The area’s dark past is captured in Charles Dickens’ depiction of Smithfield as a notorious slum in "Oliver Twist."

Today, the market retains an eerie atmosphere, hinting at its grim heritage as a place of death and suffering.

The tour guide delves into these macabre details, offering a chilling glimpse into London’s violent past.

Witnessing Executions in St. Johns Gate

After exploring the grim history of Smithfield Market, the tour group proceeds to St. John’s Gate, a structure with a dark past. Here, they learn of the public executions that once took place, where criminals were hanged or burned at the stake. A table provides deeper insight into the execution methods:

| Execution Method | Description | Duration |

| — | — | — |

| Hanging | Victim dropped from a platform, neck broken | ~10 minutes |

| Burning at the Stake | Victim tied to a post, consumed by flames | ~20 minutes |

| Beheading | Head severed with an axe or sword | Instant |

| Disembowelment | Intestines removed while still alive | Excruciating |

| Quartering | Limbs torn from body | Prolonged agony |

These gruesome details underscore the brutality of London’s past.

The Gruesome History of Cloth Fair

As the tour group departs St. Bartholomew the Great, they’re led to the historic Cloth Fair. The guide explains the gruesome history of this small neighborhood:

1. For centuries, Cloth Fair was the site of England’s largest livestock market, notorious for its brutal animal slaughter.

2. During the Black Death, countless plague victims were dumped in mass graves throughout the area.

3. Executions were also commonly held here, with the condemned paraded through the streets before meeting their grisly fate.

4. Even Charles Dickens depicted Cloth Fair as a squalid slum in his novel "Oliver Twist", reflecting its dark and macabre past.

Exploring St. Bartholomew the Great

The group now stands before the towering presence of St. Bartholomew the Great, a 12th-century priory church that has witnessed London’s turbulent history.

The guide explains that this site was once a hospital founded by Rahere, a courtier to King Henry I.

The church’s ornate architecture and rich history captivate the group as the guide delves into its past.

They learn about the church’s role in caring for the sick and injured during the Black Death, as well as its survival through the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII.

Fascinating anecdotes bring this ancient landmark to life.

More Great Tours Nearby

Remembering Sir William Wallace’s Fate

Leaving the hallowed halls of St. Bartholomew the Great, the tour group made its way to the Sir William Wallace Memorial.

Departing the sacred precincts of St. Bartholomew the Great, the tour group journeyed to the monument dedicated to Sir William Wallace.

This monument commemorates the fate of the Scottish knight, who met a gruesome end at this very spot. The tour guide recounted the grisly details:

1. Captured by the English in 1305, Wallace was charged with treason.

2. He was brutally tortured, hanged, disemboweled, and his body parts were displayed across Britain as a warning.

3. His head was placed on a spike atop London Bridge, a macabre trophy.

4. This harsh punishment exemplified the ruthless tactics employed by the English to subjugate their Scottish rivals during the Middle Ages.

St. Bartholomews Hospital: Treating the Afflicted

After contemplating the gruesome fate of Sir William Wallace, the group proceeded to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, a 900-year-old institution that treated many of London’s afflicted during its tumultuous history.

Founded in 1123, the hospital cared for the sick and dying during the Black Death pandemic, when thousands perished.

Today, visitors can explore the historic Great Hall and adjacent 12th-century Priory Church, architectural gems that have witnessed centuries of suffering and healing.

The tour guide shared poignant tales of the hospital’s role in easing the pain of London’s most vulnerable residents throughout the city’s darkest hours.

The Golden Boy of Pye Corner and the Great Fire

Departing the storied halls of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, the tour group next visits the iconic Golden Boy of Pye Corner. This bronze statue commemorates the mythical end of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The fire’s origins remain a mystery, but local lore blames the indulgences of the "gluttonous citizens of London." The statue marks the point where the flames were finally extinguished.

The tour explores:

1. The Great Fire’s devastating impact, destroying over 13,000 houses and 87 parish churches.

2. How the disaster reshaped London’s urban landscape, leading to the city’s modern infrastructure.

3. The statue’s symbolic role as a reminder of the city’s resilience.

4. Theories surrounding the fire’s mysterious origins.

Ely Place: Dickens’ Depiction of a Notorious Slum

As the tour ventures deeper into London’s history, the group arrives at Ely Place, a street that once embodied the city’s notorious slums. Immortalized in Charles Dickens’ "Oliver Twist," Ely Place was a harrowing microcosm of London’s underworld in the 19th century.

| Dickens’ Description | Reality |

| — | — |

| Squalid dwellings | Overcrowded, unsanitary tenements |

| Destitute inhabitants | Impoverished, often criminal residents |

| Rampant crime | Theft, violence, and illicit activities |

| Dire living conditions | Lack of basic amenities and services |

| Moral decay | Societal breakdown and lawlessness |

Today, the remnants of Ely Place’s past serve as a sobering reminder of the harsh realities that plagued London’s most vulnerable communities.

The Sum Up

London’s bloody past is etched into its historic sites, where public spectacles of brutal executions and animal butchery once unfolded. The city’s macabre heritage, vividly depicted by Dickens, is a sobering reminder of the squalor and violence that defined its history, from the echoes of the Black Death to the grim legacies of Smithfield Market and Cloth Fair.

You can check availability for your dates here: