THE GREAT FIREOF

LONDONTHE FIRE AND THE RECONSTRUCTION

The FireHow did it begin?

It started in Pudding Lane, in a baker’s shop owned by Thomas Farriner – the king’s baker

From Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September

In 1665, during the plague, Charles II had fled London

In September 1666, Charles II and James, Duke of York, stayed in London and took charge of the operation to save the city.

Oven, 1600sThe bakery where the Great Fire started probably had a clay oven like this.

The FireHow did it end?

Charles II ordered creating fire-breaks. He was successful

The Great Fire had burned down 84 churches and the old St Paul’s

It had also destroyed the filthy streets associated the Great Plague.

The fire was good to sterilize streets and plan the re-building of London.

Fire at Tiverton, 1617. (Guildhall Library Prints Room)

Fire Hook

Drawing by Wenceslas Hollar

Great Fire painting, 1670s (27.142)Showing the fire from either Newgate or Ludgate with St Paul’s Cathedral in the background.

The FireHow do we know?

There were some important documents which helped us to know the key facts of the event, including:

The London Gazzete writings

The eyewitnesses testimonials

Samuel Pepys Diary

Paintings and maps

Information of Elizabeth Lumley spinster servant to the Lady Montague in Gower Street and of Thomas Cary servant of John Taylor citizen and mercer of London taken the 5th day of May 1668.

"She sayeth that on Monday last was a sennight about 12 of the clock at night she being in her lady’s house and [deleted] going down into the cellar she smelt an ill smell of burning at which she was very much afrighted and [deleted] the same smell continued near half an hour so that she durst not go to bed for fear thereof and thereupon she heard a noise in the street as calling for lights for that there was a fireball.”

London Gazette newspaper, 1666Covering the period from 3 – 10 September 1666, this gives lots of information about what happened in the Great Fire.

Samuel Pepys' DiarySamuel Pepys was an English naval administrator

and Member of Parliament.  He kept a diary daily

from 1666 to 1669. He later had them bound into six volumes. It is written in shorthand from his time, which was not invented by him or a secret code.

The Reconstruction

View of London in 1749. Showing the new style of brick house specified in the 1667 Rebuilding Act and the new St Paul’s Cathedral.

This is a speech that King Charles II made to the people of London. He praised the courage of the people during the fire. He also said that he wanted to rebuild the city and he made plans to prevent another fire.

Memorial Monument

The main memorial to the fire is the famous Monument, designed by Sir Christopher Wren. It is 202ft tall, being the exact distance from the baker's house where the fire began in Pudding Lane. Visitors can climb the 311 steps to the top and enjoy spectacular views of London.

Christopher Wren After the Great

Fire of London, Sir Christopher Wren designed new churches and supervised the reconstruction of some of London's most important buildings.

Christopher Wren proposed an interesting plan that would rebuild London with wide streets radiating from a central area.

Wren's plan failed, probably because property owners wanted to keep the same land they owned before the fire. However, Wren did design 51 new city churches and the new St Paul's Cathedral.

Great Buildings

1675-1710Saint Paul´s CathedralLondon

1670-1683: St. Mary Le BowCheapside, London

1671-1681St. Nicholas Cole Abbey, London

1672-1687St. Stephen's Walbrook,London

1674-1687St. James, Piccadilly, London

1680St. Clement Danes, Strand, London

1682Christ ChurchCollege Bell Tower

1696-1715Greenwich Hospital

Architectural style

Classical Christopher Wren

was familiar with the 1st Century Roman architect Vitruvius and the Renaissance thinker Giacomo da Vignola.

Wren's first buildings were inspired by the classical works of the English architect Inigo Jones.

Baroque Early in his career,

Christopher Wren traveled to Paris and studied French baroque architecture.

He met there the Italian Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

"Architecture has its political use, public buildings being the Ornament of a Country, it establishes a Nation, draws People and Commerce, makes the People love their native Country, which Passion is the Original of all great Actions in a Commonwealth…. Architecture aims at Eternity."

Christopher Wren

Questions 1. Who was the King or Queen during the

Great Fire of London? A) Elizabeth B) James II C) Charles II D) Charles I

2. How many days did the fire last? A) From 5 September to 2 October 1666 B) From 2 September to 5 September 1666 C) From 2 September to 5 September 1665 D) From 2 September to 3 September 1666

Questions 3. What types of architectural styles

inspired Chistopher Wren? A) Classical and Gothic B) Victorian and Baroque C) Classical and Baroque D) Classical and Medieval

4. Which of these cathedrals was designed by Christopher Wren? A) St Edmundsbury Cathedral B) St Paul’s Cathedral C) Westminster Abbey D) St. George's Cathedral

Thank you for your atention!