On this day (September 2nd) in 1666, the Great Fire of London sparked into life.
The fire, which would wipe out 80% of the city, was ignited in a bakehouse in Pudding Lane, a short work from London’s famous Tower Bridge. The proprietor of the bakery, who regularly supplied bread to the king, was Thomas Farriner – but the culprit was one of the bakehouse workers, who failed to dampen the oven properly.
When the bakery went up in flames, Farriner and his family fled across the maze of rooftops that surrounded the building. The only member of the household to remain behind was a maid, who was too paralyzed from fright and shock to run. Unfortunately for her, the flames soon engulfed the entire building, and the fire claimed its first victim.
The fire was to rage for 3 days, until it finally burnt out on September 5th. The famous diarist, Samuel Pepys, chronicled the progress of the flames in his journals, which have since become an invaluable historical record.
Unlike many of the London's inhabitants, Samuel did not attempt to move his belongings out of the city as the flames drew closer to his home. Instead, he came up with an ingenious way to protect his most treasured possessions, as this diary entry will attest:
(In the end, Pepys and his buried cheese and wine escaped unscathed. Although the fire spread to his street, it died out before reaching his house.)
The fire, which would wipe out 80% of the city, was ignited in a bakehouse in Pudding Lane, a short work from London’s famous Tower Bridge. The proprietor of the bakery, who regularly supplied bread to the king, was Thomas Farriner – but the culprit was one of the bakehouse workers, who failed to dampen the oven properly.
When the bakery went up in flames, Farriner and his family fled across the maze of rooftops that surrounded the building. The only member of the household to remain behind was a maid, who was too paralyzed from fright and shock to run. Unfortunately for her, the flames soon engulfed the entire building, and the fire claimed its first victim.
The fire was to rage for 3 days, until it finally burnt out on September 5th. The famous diarist, Samuel Pepys, chronicled the progress of the flames in his journals, which have since become an invaluable historical record.
"I did dig another [hole], and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese, as well as my wine …”Truly, a man after my own heart!
(In the end, Pepys and his buried cheese and wine escaped unscathed. Although the fire spread to his street, it died out before reaching his house.)
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