podcastsinenglish Level 1.126 London's burning
Aug 4, 2016
Discover the origins of the Great Fire of London, which ignited on Pudding Lane in September 1666. Learn how a baker’s oven sparked a blaze that engulfed the city for four days. The rapid spread can be attributed to wooden buildings and narrow streets during a dry summer. While official records maintain only six deaths, many poor victims were overlooked. The devastation included thousands of homes and iconic structures. Find out how London was rebuilt with brick to prevent future disasters.
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Fire Started In A Baker's Oven
- The Great Fire of London began in a baker's shop on Pudding Lane on Sunday 2nd September 1666 in the morning.
- It burned for four days until Wednesday 5th September 1666, devastating much of the city.
Built Environment Fueled The Blaze
- Wooden buildings, narrow streets, a long dry summer and strong wind let the flames spread rapidly across London.
- Those combined conditions explain why the blaze grew so large and lasted several days.
Casualty Records Understate Impact
- Only six deaths were officially recorded, but many poor residents likely went unrecorded in the aftermath.
- The fire destroyed about 13,200 houses, 87 churches, the original St Paul's and London Bridge.