Day in the life of a Black Death Rat

After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal

History Hit

Myths, Folklore, Mystery, History, Ghosts, Society & Culture, Murder, Ufos, True Crime, Paranormal, Supernatural, Serial Killers

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 October 2025

⏱️ 34 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What did Medieval people think about rats? Did they have any idea that they were the cause of the Black Death? How did they use charms and poisons to try to get rid of them? Today we explore the world of the Black Death Rat with Kathleen Walker-Meikle, historian of Medieval pets and animals whose books include 'Medieval Pets', 'Cats in Medieval Manuscripts', 'Dogs in Medieval Manuscripts'.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Freddy Chick. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, we're your host's Anthony Delaney and Maddie Pelling.
0:03.7	And if you would like After Dark myths, misdeeds and the paranormal, ad free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:11.1	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries with top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:20.7	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe. top history presenters and enjoy a new release every week.
0:24.8	Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:30.0	Hello and welcome to After Dark now, also available on YouTube as well as wherever you get your podcasts. Now, we are delving into a history that we know quite well on After Dark
0:34.4	today. It is, of course, the Black Death, but we are looking at this particular
0:38.2	episode from a very new angle and that is what it was like for the poor plague-ridden rats
0:44.0	that started it all. Or did they? Here's Maddie with more.
0:51.6	We're back in 1348 under the blue skies and white clouds of Merry England.
0:57.0	A heavily laden cart is rolling toward a church, with a cluster of houses gathered around its base.
1:04.0	In the shadows, a beady eye looks out.
1:08.0	A nose sniffs the air. The rest is hidden, but we know what it is. This putrid
1:14.1	eminence, this being of rottenness, this rat. Black death on four small legs. Rattus, ratus.
1:24.0	Our companion for today's episode hops off, squeaking merrily as it heads for the dark corners of the village, but we are going to follow it.
1:32.2	Welcome to the world of the Black Death Rat.
2:03.1	Welcome to the world of the Black Death Rat. Have we officially lost our minds?
2:03.6	Yes. Yes.
2:04.6	Because producer Freddie has been trying to get this episode done for quite some time.
2:10.8	And now it is finally happening.
2:12.9	It is a day in the life of a black death rat.
2:16.8	We are going to be asking the question how medieval rats
	...

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