The Great Fire of

London

What happened in London?

In 1666, a devastating
fire swept through
London, destroying
13,200 houses, 87
parish churches, The
A city in flames Royal Exchange,
Guildhall and St.
Paul’s Cathedral.
So how did it happen?
 Following a long, dry summer the city was
suffering a drought. Water was scarce and the
wooden houses had dried out, making them
easier to burn... it was a recipe for disaster.
 It all began…

The Great Fire of London started on Sunday,
2 September 1666 in a baker's shop on
Pudding Lane belonging to Thomas Farynor 
At first, few were concerned – fires were such
a common occurrence at the time. 
When it reached the Thames it hit
warehouses stocked with combustible
products including as oil and tallow.
Who was Samuel Pepys?

  He was a man who lived at the time and
kept a diary that has been well preserved. 
He was a Clerk to the Royal
Navy who observed the fire.
He recommended to the King
(Charles II)that buildings were pulled
down.
From the diary of Samuel Pepys,
Monday 3 September 1666:

“About four o’clock in the morning, my Lady Batten

sent me a cart to carry away all my money, and plate, and
best things, to Sir W. Rider’s at Bednall-greene. Which I
did riding myself in my night-gowne in the cart; and,
Lord! to see how the streets and the highways are
crowded with people running and riding, and getting of

carts at any rate to fetch away things. ”

 So how did they put out the
Great Fire of London?

 Pepys spoke to the Admiral of the Navy and agreed
they should blow up houses in the path of the fire. 
 The Navy carried out the request and the fire was
mostly under control by Wednesday, 5 September
1666.
 Pepys recorded in his diary that even
the King, Charles II, was seen
helping to put out the fire.
 What happened after the
fire?

 London had to be almost totally reconstructed.
Temporary buildings were erected that were ill-
equipped, disease spread easily, and many people
died from this and the harsh winter that followed the
fire.
 As well as loss of life, the financial costs were
staggering. 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, The
Royal Exchange, Guildhall and St. Paul’s Cathedral
was totally destroyed. The costs were estimated
at £10 million. 
A fresh start for London

 Sir Christopher Wren planned
the new city and the rebuilding
of London took over 30 years.
The site where the fire first started
is now marked by a 202-foot
monument built between 1671 and
1677.
 https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/museum/history-
and-stories/the-great-fire-of-london
/
 https://
www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-36774166
 https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/37222884