The Great Fire

The Great Fire

The Great Fire of London broke out on Sept. 2, 1666, in a baker's shop on Pudding Lane in the City. It was finally brought under control five days later. Most of the City, which was built largely of wood, lay in ashes. The losses included St. Paul's Cathedral and more than 80 other churches, the Royal Exchange, the halls of 44 craft and trade guilds, and about 13,000 houses. Amazingly, the fire caused no known deaths.

Londoners rebuilt the City with brick and stone instead of timber. The great architect of the new City was Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt many structures lost in the fire, including St. Paul's Cathedral. But few people returned to live in the City. Many merchants moved to the West End, where attractive residential squares were being laid out in such sections as Bloomsbury and Mayfair.

Excerpt adapted from the "London" article, The World Book Encyclopedia © 1999