The Great Fire Of London - Information, Featured Articles

The Great Fire Of London

On the 2nd of September 1666, a small fire was accidentally started in a bakery in Pudding Lane. Over the next four days it spread across the City of London. When it was finally put out, only one fifth of the city was left standing.

Amazingly there was little loss of life but homes, livelihoods and many great buildings were destroyed. Following the fire it became law that all new buildings must be made of stone rather than wood.

The fire and the new brick buildings drastically changed the structure of the city. Samuel Pepys was there at the same time and gave a full account of the fire in his diary. Major buildings damaged included the Guildhall.

A monument was erected to commemorate the great fire and was imaginatively named The Monument. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, who was responsible for much of the rebuilding of London following the fire. If The Monument were to fall over, in the right direction, the top would touch the site of the baker's shop on Pudding Lane, where the fire started.