Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London was a major fire that swept through the City of London from September 2 to September 5 1666, and resulted more or less in the destruction of the city. Before this fire, the fire of 1212, which destroyed a large part of the city, was known by the same name. Later, the Luftwaffe's fire-raid on the City on 29th December 1940 became known as The Second Great Fire of London.

Aftermath and consequences

The fire had a marked and varied impact on English society: see Charles II of England, Christopher Wren, Samuel Pepys, Ursula Southeil.

Related Topics:
English - Charles II of England - Christopher Wren - Samuel Pepys - Ursula Southeil

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There had been much prophesy of a disaster befalling London in 1666, since in Arabic numerals it included the number of the Beast and in Roman numerals it was a declining-order list (MDCLXVI). Walter Gostelo wrote in 1658 "If fire make not ashes of the city, and thy bones also, conclude me a liar forever!…the decree is gone out, repent, or burn, as Sodom and Gomorrah!" It seemed to many, coming after a civil war and a plague, Revelation's third horseman.

Related Topics:
Arabic numerals - Number of the Beast - Roman numerals - Walter Gostelo - 1658 - Sodom and Gomorrah - Horseman

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After the fire, a rumour began to circulate that the fire was part of a Catholic plot. A simple-minded French watchmaker named Robert "Lucky" Hubert, confessed to being an agent of the Pope and starting the fire in Westminster. He later changed his story to say that he had started it at the bakery in Pudding Lane. He was convicted, despite overwhelming evidence that he could not have started the fire, and was hanged at Tyburn on September 28.

Related Topics:
Catholic - French - Pope - Westminster - Hanged - Tyburn - September 28

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Christopher Wren was put in charge of re-building the city after the fire. His original plans involved rebuilding the city in brick and stone to a grid plan with continental piazzas and avenues. But because many buildings had survived to basement level, legal disputes over ownership of land ended the grid plan idea. From 1667, Parliament raised funds for re-building London by taxing coal, and the city was eventually rebuilt to its existing street plan, but built instead out of brick and stone and with improved sanitation and access. This is the main reason why today's London is a modern city, yet with a medieval design to its streets. Christopher Wren also re-built St Paul's Cathedral 11 years after the fire.

Related Topics:
Christopher Wren - Piazza - 1667 - Parliament - Sanitation

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Lessons in fire safety were learned, and when the current Globe Theatre was opened in 1997, it was the first building in London with a thatched roof since The Fire.

Related Topics:
Globe Theatre - 1997 - Thatched roof

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