The Great Fire of London is one of the most notorious disasters that took place in the city’s history. The fire started on September 2, 1666, and raged for four days before finally being extinguished on September 6.
It destroyed a significant portion of London’s medieval city, including more than 13,000 houses and over 80 churches. In this article, we will delve into where the Great Fire of London started and how it eventually came to an end.
Where Did the Great Fire Start?
The fire started in the early hours of September 2, 1666, in a bakery located on Pudding Lane in the heart of London. The owner of the bakery was a man named Thomas Farriner, who was also employed as the King’s baker. According to reports at the time, Farriner had failed to properly extinguish his oven before going to bed that night, which allowed embers to ignite nearby materials.
The Spread of the Fire
Once the fire started, it quickly spread throughout the densely populated area around Pudding Lane. The houses in London at that time were made mostly out of wood and straw, which made them highly flammable. The strong winds blowing from the east also helped to fan and spread the flames rapidly.
Within hours, the fire had reached nearby streets such as Thames Street and Fish Street Hill. By midday on September 2nd, it had engulfed most of London Bridge as well as several warehouses filled with highly combustible materials such as oil and tar.
The End of The Great Fire
The Great Fire of London continued to rage for four days straight before finally being contained on September 6th. During these days, various attempts were made to stop or slow down its progress but most proved futile due to inadequate resources and lack of proper planning.
It was only on the fourth day that the fire finally began to subside. This was due to a combination of factors, including the efforts of firefighters who had been brought in from other parts of the country, as well as the use of gunpowder to create firebreaks and stop the spread of flames.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Great Fire of London started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in 1666 and went on to destroy a significant portion of the medieval city. The fire’s rapid spread was aided by strong winds and highly flammable materials used in construction at that time. It eventually came to an end after four days thanks to various efforts from firefighters and other emergency personnel, as well as the use of gunpowder to contain its progress.