The Great Fire of London

September 02, 2020

People back in the 1660s were not as aware of the fire risks as they are today. Buildings were constructed of wood-coated in a flammable material called pitch, roofed with thatch-and crammed closely together with little planning thought. Around 350,000 people lived in London just before the Great Fire and it was one of Europe's largest cities. Let's read about the massive fire disaster.

The Start of the Fire

The London Great Fire began in a baker’s shop on Pudding Lane belonging to Thomas Farynor (Farriner) on Sunday 2 September 1666. Three hours later at 1 am, though he appeared to have extinguished the flames, his house was a burning inferno.

At first, few were worried-at the time, fires were too common. The flames, however, passed rapidly down Pudding Lane and proceeded down Fish Hill towards the Thames River. It spread rapidly, aided by an easterly strong wind. It hit warehouses filled with combustible goods such as oil and tallow when it reached the Thames.

Luckily, the fire didn't spread south of the river – but only because a massive blaze had already damaged a part of London Bridge in 1633.

Samuel and his diary

Samuel Pepys, a man who lived there at the time, kept a well-preserved diary. He was a Royal Navy Clerk who had been watching the flames. He suggested that King pull-down buildings-many felt it was the only way to avoid the flames.

The Putting Down of the Fire

The Mayor was ordered to pull down burning buildings using fire hooks but the fire continued to spread. People forced to leave their homes tended to bury or conceal the valuables that they were unable to bear. Pepys himself buried his costly cheese and wine and carted off to Bethnal Green his other belongings.

Pepys talked to the Navy Admiral and decided that houses should be blowing up in the fire road. The hope was that they would create a space through this to stop the fire from spreading from house to house.

The fire was made mostly under control by September 6. Small fires continued to beak out and the ground remained hot for many days. It was also recorded in Pepys' diary that he King, Charles II also helped to put out the fire.

Restoration

London had to be almost entirely restored. Temporary constructions that were poorly built, the disease quickly spread, and many people died as a result of the fire and the difficult winter.

The material losses were enormous, as were the loss of life. The royal market, the cathedral of Guildhall, and the cathedral, which was built during the Middle Ages, lost a total of 13,200 households, 87 parish churches. The projected expenses were £10,000,000.

Aftermath

Shortly afterward, wise merchants found a means of securing the insurance but minimized their chance of financial failure with the use of men to extinguish flames i.e. the first fire brigades were formed.

The New London

The new city was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, it took over 30 years to create a new London. a 202-foot monument was constructed between 1671 and 1677 which marks the spot where the fire first began.