Interesting facts about the great fire of London

The Great Fire of London, which raged out of control for three full days, is one of history's most well-known conflagrations. It began on the 2nd of September in 1666, and in its wake, it left over 13,000 houses in ashes. One of the reasons the fire spread with such ferocity was because the majority of the buildings were constructed from wood, a highly flammable material. Despite the extensive damage, it is remarkable that only six deaths were recorded as a result of the blaze. The fire originated in a baker's shop, which would become the epicentre of a disaster that occurred more than three centuries ago.

Among the details that bring the event to life is the name of the baker, Thomas Farriner, whose shop on Pudding Lane became infamous. The aftermath of the fire saw a massive rebuilding effort that spanned 50 years, reshaping the city's landscape. Not only were thousands of homes lost, but 68 churches were also destroyed, including the original St Paul's Cathedral. The construction of the new St Paul's Cathedral commenced in 1675, nearly a decade after the fire. At the time of the fire, London lacked an organised fire brigade, leaving citizens to combat the flames with whatever means they had, including drawing water from the River Thames to douse the inferno.