1666, the Great Fire of London

2024-01-25T05:47:17.911Z

Highlights: 1666, the Great Fire of London. In 1666, a violent fire destroyed 80% of London! Immerse yourself with Virginie Girod at the heart of the history of this blaze in a previously unpublished story. With more than 500,000 inhabitants, London was one of the most populous cities in Europe at the time. 13,200 houses have disappeared, as well as 87 churches and numerous public buildings. The human toll is "only" 8 dead, but the disaster leaves thousands of people homeless.

In 1666, a violent fire destroyed 80% of London! Immerse yourself with Virginie Girod at the heart of the history of this blaze in a previously unpublished story. With more than 500,000 inhabitants, London was one of the most populous cities in Europe at the time. But with its wooden houses built in a hurry to house the ever-growing population, it is archaic. In the heart of the City, the oldest district of the city, many activities contribute to raising the temperature in the streets where air circulates poorly. It was in one of them, in Pudding Lane, that the fire started in the back room of a bakery on the night of September 2. Soon he escapes and reaches the adjacent streets. In 1666, firefighters did not yet exist. It was therefore up to the inhabitants and the soldiers to fight the flames using simple buckets of water. They have the idea of ​​destroying the houses to prevent the fire from spreading. But the mayor, Thomas Bloodworth, is opposed to it. He is said to have uttered these famous words: “A woman could put out this fire by pissing on it!” The situation deteriorates and the fire spreads to the banks of the Thames. Even the river, which carries flaming debris, cannot stop the progression of the fire. In the city, there is chaos: residents flee their homes in haste and clutter the streets, which complicates the fight against the fire. Some people piled up their belongings in Saint-Paul Cathedral, believing it to be inviolable thanks to God's protection. The building, which is under construction, is however surrounded by scaffolding which quickly catches fire. Londoners can only cry as they see this architectural gem disappear before their eyes. Wednesday September 5, the worst is over. A few fires are still burning but the wind has died down, and there is nothing left to burn. 13,200 houses have disappeared, as well as 87 churches and numerous public buildings. The human toll is "only" 8 dead, but the disaster leaves thousands of people homeless.