The Great Fire of London: Destruction and Reconstruction in 1666

The Great Fire of London in the 17th century is considered on of the most notable events in shaping Britain's history. This tragic event continued for four days and changed the look of London's architecture forever.

On 2 September 1666, at around 1 a.m. a small fire sparked in the bakery of Thomas Farynor at Pudding Lane. The fire ignited due to an incorrectly extinguished bread oven. Due to the blustery winds, the closeness of buildings, and the wooden structure of the buildings, the fire spread quickly, and within a few hours, entire streets became infernal. Countless homes, churches, and general buildings were engulfed by the inferno. It was reported that 80% of the city was destroyed by this fire. The shortage of water supplies further aggravated the situation and caused the fire to last much longer. Thousands of civilians were displaced, six people died, and the historic buildings were annihilated due to the fire. The big underlying threat during the wildfire was that if the fire reached the Tower of London, it would create a mini nuclear device due to the thousands of barrels of gunpowder present in the building. If it had happened, then all the famous landmarks, including the London Bridge, would have vanished in a matter of seconds. The question arises, how did they prevent the wildfire from reaching the Tower of London?

All the houses and residential buildings near the tower were demolished with gunpowder to create a level surface with the ground and the fire. The gunpowder was able to create a firebreak, prevent the fire from catching, and avoid a huge tragedy. London was saved.

The great fire prompted the urban renewal of the city. One of the famous architects, Sir Christopher Wren, led the charge of reconstructing London. The new houses were made from bricks and not from wood or tar, and the number of stories a house could have was also restricted. Just after a decade of the Great Fire, most of the city was functional.

The Great Fire of London remains a remarkable section of the city's tale. It is an account of destruction, reconstruction, and human creativity. It demonstrates the resilience of Londoners, and this event advocates for the legacy of London.