Filthy Cities Season 1 Episode 1 Medieval London

In the first episode of Filthy Cities season 1, viewers are transported back in time to Medieval London. Host Dan Snow takes on the role of a mudlark, a person who scavenges the riverbanks for items to sell. Snow explains that London in the Middle Ages was a bustling city, but it was also plagued with filth and disease.

As Snow walks along the river Thames, he describes the bustling port that was London in the 14th century. He talks about how the city had grown rapidly in size, but there was no waste management system in place. This led to people throwing their garbage and refuse directly into the streets and the river, which was also used for bathing and drinking.

Snow visits the city's public toilets, which were little more than open pits. The stench from the waste was overwhelming, and Snow explains that the same water used to clean kitchen utensils was also used to wash hands and faces.

The host also delves into the city's living conditions during this time period. He visits a crowded tenement building to show how families lived in small, often windowless rooms. The lack of space and poor ventilation led to diseases such as the Black Death spreading rapidly.

Another aspect of Medieval London that Snow explores is the role of animals in the city. He visits a tannery, where animal hides were turned into leather goods. The tannery's large vats were filled with urine in order to soften the hides, contributing to the already pungent odor of the city.

Throughout the episode, Snow emphasizes the impact of the city's filth on public health. He visits a hospital that was built specifically to treat people with leprosy, a disease that was rampant in London at the time. The unsanitary conditions of the city contributed to the spread of illnesses such as leprosy and the plague, which claimed many lives during this time period.

Towards the end of the episode, Snow visits a dung heap in the middle of the city. The mound of animal waste was so large that it was blocking traffic, and Snow explains that it was a common sight in London's streets. He emphasizes how the city's filth was not just a visual or olfactory nuisance, but also a genuine threat to public health.

Overall, the premiere episode of Filthy Cities season 1 paints a vivid picture of Medieval London's squalor and filth. Dan Snow's engaging narration and on-site exploration of the city's most repugnant areas set the tone for the rest of the series, which explores how filth affected daily life in other major cities throughout history.