A historical depiction of the Great Fire of London. Wikimedia Commons.
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In the early hours of 2 September 1666, a fire began in a bakery on Pudding Lane in London. The city was vulnerable to fire because many buildings were made of timber and stood close together along narrow streets. A long dry period had also left wood very dry, and strong winds pushed the flames from building to building. The fire burned for several days. Thousands of houses were destroyed, along with churches and businesses. St Paul's Cathedral, an older building than the one seen in London today, was also destroyed. Many people escaped with whatever belongings they could carry or transport. The officially recorded death toll was surprisingly low, although historians are uncertain whether all deaths were recorded. After the disaster, London had to rebuild large areas. New building rules encouraged greater use of brick and stone instead of timber. Architect Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul's Cathedral and many replacement churches. The Great Fire was a terrible disaster, but the rebuilding helped change the appearance and construction of London.
