Plague Houses and pandemics

Alison Wall


Region:
South East
Notice Period:
Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
Type:
hobby
Fee:
Unknown: Approx. £80 plus travel expenses
Category:
History
Updated:
31st August 2025

Alison has researched the little-known pest/plague/pestilence houses since 2007. Charles ll issued an Edict in 1665, stipulating that every parish must assign a plague house to use for isolation and health protection against the Great Plague. The talk details the history of medicine and beliefs about the plague. It covers many houses, both still standing and demolished. Plague Houses are placed in context with leper (or lobe) hospitals, isolation units, and general hospitals. Finally, Alison compares and contrasts the management of the plague in 1665 with the management of COVID-19 in 2020.

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About Alison Wall

I am a semi-retired public health nurse. I have worked as a nurse, midwife and Health Visitor. I have researched various subjects including a local medieval Manor House where I am a volunteer guide. I have also researched the details about the Russell family who lived there and who now live at Woburn Abbey. I have researched the plague cottages/pestilence houses over many years and give PowerPoint presentations about them. They were used for isolation purposes from the fifteenth century and I link their use with public health issues today. I have a book published about the plague cottages and the history of medicine. I am a guide at Kensington Palace. I have a talk about the Palace. My most recent talk is about Georgina, Duchess of Devonshire, who was a real Georgian influencer. My latest talk is on Rye House in Hoddesdon, North Herts. the talk is titled "A Tudor Quuen and a failed assassination."


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