The Great Fire of London

The Great Fire of London started at 2 o'clock in the morning on Sunday 2nd September 1666. It would burn for four days and destroy five-sixths of the largest city in Europe.

In 1666, London was a crowded, dirty and plague-ridden city. The streets were filthy and very narrow and the houses built so close together that neighbours could lean out of a window and shake hands. Most houses were made of wood, reeds and straw and it was obvious that a big fire might occur. However, no one had ever imagined just how big.

The fire started in a Baker’s Shop in Pudding Lane. Mr Farynor, the baker, was asleep with his family upstairs when his assistant who had smelt smoke raised the alarm. Mr Farynor and his family escaped by climbing out of their bedroom window and onto the roof of the house next door. They raised the alarm by running up and down the street shouting ‘fire’.

Neighbours formed ‘bucket chains’ from the nearest wells to pour water onto the fire. However, the closeness of the buildings and the wind, which was blowing quite hard at the time, meant that the fire started to spread to other houses, and in particular, to an Inn called the ‘Star’. In the courtyard of the Inn there were bales of straw and fodder for horses. These caught fire very quickly and the fire grew rapidly.

It was at this time the Lord Mayor of London arrived. He was annoyed that his sleep had been interrupted, he took one look at the fire, decided there was nothing he could do, and went back to bed. He gave no orders and he offered no advice.

About 100 metres from the baker’s shop were the warehouses of Thames Street. Here were stores stocked high with supplies such as, tallow, oils, pitch, timber and fodder. When the flames reached this area, the fire raged out of control. There was nothing the people could do to stop it. Six hours after the fire had started, over 300 houses were on fire and the flames were spreading towards the city centre. And the Mayor of London… he remained in bed, asleep.

By midday, it was realised how serious the fire was. It was decided that as buckets of water were not stopping the flames, they would pull down the houses surrounding the fire. This would provide a gap called a ‘fire-break’ and hopefully, this would stop the fire spreading.

Unfortunately, the owners of the houses wanted everyone else’s home pulled down except their own. Because they delayed the workers pulling down the houses the fire continued to overtake them.

Everyone not involved in firefighting duties was asked to leave the area. Many didn’t want to leave their homes and possessions but were ordered to do so by the Duke of York who had taken control of firefighting duties. Most women and children crossed the River Thames to safety and soldiers and sailors were brought into the city to help fight the fire.

The weather during September had been unusually good. Sunday and Monday had brought hot, cloudless skies with a breeze that fanned the flames. Burning embers had whirled high above the city on this breeze, only to fall on streets and houses previously untouched by the fire. Hundreds of new fires were reported. Something had to be done very quickly or London would be destroyed.

On Tuesday, it was decided that gunpowder would be used to create the ‘fire-break’. This would be more efficient and quicker than using axes and hooks.

Sailors were brought in to start blowing up the houses. One barrel of gunpowder per house. The explosions would lift the house off the ground and fling it back, crashing it to pieces. The seamen would then clear away the rubble as fast as they could. This would leave an open area free from wreckage and would stop the fire from spreading.

Early on Wednesday morning the fire was finally stopped. Among the ruins large fires burned throughout the day but, the situation was under control and there were to be no more fresh outbreaks of fire.

The damage caused by this fire was tremendous. 13,200 houses, 84 churches and most of the public buildings were destroyed. Surprisingly, there were only six people killed although there were many more injured by the fire. Unfortunately, many were to suffer in the coming months. Over one hundred thousand people were made homeless and many would spend the winter, half starved, in a shantytown of tents and hovels that sprang up outside the city walls.

In 1667, The City Council passed a law that plans for fire prevention and firefighting methods were to be drawn up and that fire fighting equipment and special water supplies would be provided. Of course, taxes would be raised to pay for these facilities.

Although London was to experience many more fires and tragedies over the years never again would the City be caught as unprepared as it was on that Sunday morning of September 2nd 1666.