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The First Victim
- The Great Fire of London started in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane.
- The fire's first victim was Farriner's maid, who refused to leave the attic.
London at a Crossroads
- London in the 1660s was at a crossroads, experiencing restoration of the monarchy and a scientific flourishing.
- However, war with the Dutch Republic and the Great Plague created tension and hardship.
Overcrowded and Hazardous
- 1666 London was the world's third-largest city, with a quarter of its population crammed within its medieval walls.
- The city was a mix of unregulated timber structures, slums, and narrow alleyways, creating a fire hazard.