Winchester and the Black Death

This evening, we went on a fascinating, if sobering, guided walk led by the very erudite  Professor Emeritus Tom Beaumont James who explained very lucidly, about what happened when the  Black Death came to Winchester in 1348. The south coast was particularly  badly affected, as Plague (caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria)arrived by boat from mainland Europe carried by fleas on black rats, and quickly  spread inland. However, at that time no one knew the true source of Plague, and  it raised much alarm among the populace.Speculation must have been rife.The Bishops ordered many Masses be said as they  declared that sin might be a causative factor. However, the clergy at Winchester cathedral were far from immune. They  kept very good records of how many of their number died.
Pre- Plague Winchester had a total population of about 11,000, of whom about half (both church and town)died in the  Black Death of 1348-49. There were further  outbreaks of Plague in the country until about 1665. Winchester's population continued  to decline during this time, falling eventually to a mere 3000 inhabitants. It only rose to pre- Plague levels in the 19th century, as recorded in the 1851 census.  It wasn't until late 19th century that the cause of Plague was actually discovered by bacteriologists.
The  effect of so few people meant any building additions to the cathedral were carried out in a simpler Perpendicular style rather than the earlier more decorated style. Tending rabbits for food and sheep for meat and wool became more prevalent than arable farming, presumably as they required less manpower. Land was cheaper to rent, and workers could command higher pay. William Wykeham set up Winchester College to educate boys to become priests, to fill the many vacancies which had arisen in the church.
How distressing and unsettling it must have been for all the inhabitants.

I didn't take any pictures on the walk, so today 's blip is completely unrelated!  My blip is a picture of my Chilean Myrtle (Luma apiculata) which, pleasingly,  has decided to flower this summer. Planted in the ground it will grow into a big tree with cinnamon- coloured stems and scented leaves, but mine is in a large pot which has restricted it to shrub size. I find it curious that the  flowers are so similar to those of true Myrtle (Myrtus communis), and they are in the same family, and yet Myrtle originates from Africa, Asia and India, far away from South  America.