The Great Fire of London 1666

The Great Fire of London, which raged from 2 to 5 September 1666, destroyed much of the medieval City of London. It was one of the most transformative events in London's history, leading to a fundamental redesign of the city. This lesson covers the causes, events, impact, and aftermath of the fire.

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Causes of the Fire

The Great Fire started in the early hours of Sunday 2 September 1666 at the bakery of Thomas Farriner (sometimes spelled Farynor) on Pudding Lane, near London Bridge.

Several factors made London extremely vulnerable to fire:

Factor	Explanation
Timber-framed buildings	Most houses in the City were built of wood, with upper storeys jutting out over narrow streets
Narrow streets	Buildings were close together, making it easy for fire to jump from house to house
Dry conditions	The summer of 1666 had been exceptionally hot and dry
Strong east wind	A powerful wind fanned the flames westward through the city
Flammable materials	Warehouses near the river stored oil, tallow, spirits, and other combustible goods

Key Figure: Samuel Pepys — a naval administrator and famous diarist who witnessed the fire and left one of the most detailed eyewitness accounts. He also helped persuade the King to order the demolition of houses to create firebreaks.

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The Course of the Fire

Day-by-Day Timeline

Day	Date	Key Events
Day 1	Sunday 2 September	Fire starts at Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane around 1 am. Lord Mayor Sir Thomas Bloodworth is dismissive: "Pish! A woman might piss it out." The fire spreads rapidly.
Day 2	Monday 3 September	The fire reaches the north bank of the Thames. Pepys visits the King at Whitehall. Charles II orders houses to be pulled down to create firebreaks. The Duke of York takes charge of firefighting efforts.
Day 3	Tuesday 4 September	St Paul's Cathedral is destroyed. The fire reaches its greatest extent. Gunpowder is used to blow up houses and create firebreaks.
Day 4	Wednesday 5 September	The wind drops, and the firebreaks begin to take effect. The fire is gradually brought under control.

Exam Tip: The initial failure of Lord Mayor Bloodworth to act decisively is a key factor in why the fire spread so far. Contrast this with the energetic response of the King and the Duke of York, who personally directed firefighting efforts. Examiners may ask you to evaluate the effectiveness of the authorities' response.

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The Destruction

The Great Fire caused enormous physical destruction:

Category	Scale of Destruction
Houses destroyed	Approximately 13,200 houses
Churches destroyed	87 parish churches, including old St Paul's Cathedral
Area burned	About 436 acres — roughly 80% of the City within the walls
People made homeless	An estimated 70,000–80,000 people (out of a City population of around 80,000)
Deaths	Officially only six recorded deaths, though the true figure was almost certainly higher
Major buildings lost	The Royal Exchange, the Guildhall, Custom House, Bridewell Palace, many livery company halls

What Survived?

The Tower of London was saved, partly because its garrison blew up surrounding houses to create a firebreak. The areas east of the Tower and north of the City walls largely escaped.

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Immediate Aftermath

In the days following the fire, London faced a humanitarian crisis:

• Tens of thousands of people camped in the open fields of Moorfields and Finsbury Fields north of the City.
• There was widespread fear and anger. Rumours spread that the fire had been started deliberately by Catholics, the French, or the Dutch (England was at war with the Netherlands at the time).
• Several foreigners were attacked by mobs. A French watchmaker named Robert Hubert confessed to starting the fire and was hanged, though his confession was almost certainly false.

Key Term: Scapegoating — the practice of blaming a particular group for a disaster. The blaming of Catholics and foreigners for the Great Fire is a significant example of scapegoating in English history.

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Rebuilding London

The rebuilding of London after the fire was a massive undertaking that transformed the city.

Key Developments

Development	Detail
Rebuilding Act (1667)	Set new building regulations: houses to be built of brick or stone, not timber; streets to be wider
Christopher Wren	Appointed to oversee the rebuilding of the churches. His masterpiece, the new St Paul's Cathedral, was completed in 1710.
Fire courts	Special courts to resolve property disputes quickly
Monument	A column 202 feet tall, designed by Wren and Robert Hooke, erected near Pudding Lane to commemorate the fire (completed 1677)
Improved infrastructure	Better sewers, wider streets, and designated market areas

Key Figure: Sir Christopher Wren submitted an ambitious plan to rebuild London on a grid pattern with wide boulevards, but it was rejected as impractical because of the complexity of land ownership. Instead, London was rebuilt largely on its medieval street plan, but with much improved building standards.

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Significance of the Great Fire

The Great Fire was significant for several reasons:

1. Public health: The destruction of overcrowded, unsanitary medieval housing may have contributed to the end of plague in London.
2. Urban planning: New building regulations made London safer and more modern.
3. Architecture: The rebuilding gave Christopher Wren the opportunity to reshape London's skyline with over 50 new churches.
4. Political impact: The fire fuelled anti-Catholic sentiment and suspicion of foreign powers.
5. Insurance: The fire led to the creation of the first fire insurance companies in England.

Exam Tip: A common question asks you to evaluate the significance of the Great Fire. Consider both short-term impacts (destruction, homelessness, scapegoating) and long-term impacts (rebuilding, public health, end of plague, insurance). The strongest answers will weigh up these factors and reach a clear judgement.

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Extended Worked Paragraph: Q8 Judgement

Question: "The rebuilding of London was the most important consequence of the Great Fire of 1666." How far do you agree?