The ground scorched his feet and he found nothing but dust, ash and ruins. Leaving the church, he wandered along Gracechurch Street, Fenchurch Street and Lombard Street towards the Royal Exchange, which he found to be “a sad sight” with all the pillars and statues (except one of Sir Thomas Gresham) destroyed.

On 5 September 1666, the 33-year-old Samuel Pepys climbed the steeple of the ancient church of All Hallows-by-the-Tower and was met with the “the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw everywhere great fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things burning”. More than 13,000 houses, 87 churches and 44 livery halls were destroyed, the historic city gates were wrecked, and the Guildhall, St Paul’s Cathedral, Baynard’s Castle and the Royal Exchange were severely damaged – in some cases, beyond repair. Quoted directly from the article, the following two paragraphs:ĭuring the early hours of 2 September 1666, a fire broke out in Thomas Farriner’s bakehouse on Pudding Lane, which blazed and spread with such ferocity and speed that within a few days the old City of London was reduced to a charred ruin. Submitted to BBC History Magazine by Emma Mason. '10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About The Great Fire Of London.' Įxcerpts from the book by writer Rebecca Rideal, '1666: Plague, War and Hellfire'. This month's issue of BBC History Magazine had an interesting article I wanted to share with you. For all of you who love London and its history, a reminder that today is the anniversary date of The Great Fire Of London.įor those who will be in London in the month of September, the Museum Of London has a special exhibit this month about The Great Fire Of London.

Rebecca rideal 1666