It’s hard to imagine a more catastrophic event than a citywide fire, but in 1666, London experienced just that. However, the Great Fire of London wasn’t just a tragedy—it was a bizarre series of events that involved a careless baker, lots of flammable materials, and some very unfortunate decision-making. Buckle up, because this tale of flames, folly, and fire insurance is about to get hot!
The Fire Starts in a Bakery
The story begins in the early hours of September 2, 1666, in the bakery of one Thomas Farriner on Pudding Lane. Farriner, like most bakers of the time, baked bread in a wood-fired oven. On this particular night, after finishing his work, he thought he had extinguished the fire. He was wrong. In the dead of night, a stray spark found its way to a pile of kindling, and before anyone could say “crumpet,” the bakery was ablaze.
Within minutes, the fire spread rapidly through the wooden structures of London, fueled by a strong easterly wind. Houses, shops, and taverns went up in flames like kindling, and soon, the fire was raging uncontrollably. Residents scrambled to save their belongings, throwing everything they could carry into the Thames River, only to watch in horror as the fire leaped from building to building.
London Burns… and Burns
The Great Fire of London wasn’t just a fire; it was a four-day inferno that consumed over 13,000 houses, 87 parish churches, and countless businesses. People fled in all directions, some taking refuge in boats on the river, others seeking shelter in open fields outside the city. It was said that the heat was so intense that metal objects melted, and the fire was visible for miles around.
King Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, tried to help by ordering the demolition of houses to create firebreaks. Unfortunately, they didn’t do this until the fire had already spread beyond control. Adding to the chaos, rumors spread that the fire was an act of foreign sabotage or even divine punishment, causing panic and confusion.
The Unlikely Heroes
As if the fire itself wasn’t strange enough, some unusual characters emerged during the chaos. One of the more unexpected heroes was the king’s baker, not Thomas Farriner but another royal baker, who tried to rescue a loaf of bread from the flames. He was caught in the act and immortalized in a famous painting, clutching a loaf of bread as London burned behind him. Talk about a hot cross bun!
And then there were the firemen—if you can call them that. Back in 1666, London didn’t have a formal fire brigade. Instead, the city relied on bucket brigades and makeshift firefighting tools like “fire hooks” to pull down buildings. The Lord Mayor of London at the time, Sir Thomas Bloodworth, famously declared, “Pish! A woman could piss it out,” when he first saw the flames, thinking they were no big deal. As it turns out, he was quite wrong.
Rebuilding London… and Learning Lessons
The fire finally burned itself out after four days, thanks largely to the efforts of the local gentry and a change in the wind direction. In the aftermath, London lay in ruins. But every disaster has a silver lining, right? For London, the Great Fire meant a chance to rebuild. The city was redesigned with wider streets, brick and stone buildings, and—most importantly—an early version of fire insurance.
Sir Christopher Wren, the famous architect, took on the task of redesigning St. Paul’s Cathedral and many other buildings. His work helped shape the London skyline we know today. And as for the unlucky Thomas Farriner? He managed to escape the fire, but he probably never lived down his role in one of the greatest conflagrations in history.
A Flaming Reminder
The Great Fire of London is a story of devastation, yes, but also of resilience, ingenuity, and, let’s be honest, a bit of absurdity. It’s a reminder that sometimes, it’s the smallest spark that ignites the biggest blaze. So, the next time you fire up your oven to bake a loaf of bread, spare a thought for poor Thomas Farriner and his crispy bakery, and maybe keep a fire extinguisher handy—just in case.
Who knows? You might avoid turning your kitchen into the next Pudding Lane, and we can all enjoy our toast a little less… well, toasted.