September 2 - The Great Fire of London Begins

This Day in History: 2 September 2020

 

2 September 1666

 

354 years ago, today, the Great Fire of London broke out in the house of King Charles II's baker. Sometime around midnight, smouldering embers ignited firewood lying beside the oven, quickly engulfing the house in flames. The sparks from the bakery set fire to a nearby inn, and spread to Thames Street, with warehouses packed full of flammable materials, transforming the fire into an uncontrollable blaze. Strong winds worsened the flames, causing people to flee into the Thames River with their possessions. The fire finally relaxed on September 5 and was brought under control the next day.

 

The Great Fire of London destroyed 13,000 houses, as well as many historic landmarks, such as the old St. Paul's Cathedral. Within days, King Charles II began to rebuild the capital, starting with a new design of St. Paul's Cathedral. To prevent future fires, most new houses were built of brick or stone, narrow alleyways were forbidden, and streets were made wider. More than three centuries later, in 1986, London's bakers finally apologised to the lord mayor for setting fire to the city. A plaque was unveiled where the fire began that acknowledged the king's baker, Thomas Farrinor, as guilty of causing the Great Fire of London.

 

Want to find out more about the Great Fire of London? Click here for more information, or here for more about the pandemic London was facing at the same time as the fire.