" Great fire of London"

1- The disaster:

2- What happened

3-What were the injuries? How many people died?

4-What was the damage? 

5-How did communities respond in the first days and weeks?

6-How did communities respond in the long term?

7-What was the (historical) significance of this disaster?  This question may require further research.

 

1- The disaster:

The Great Fire of London was a major destructive fire that affected central parts of the City of London, which was the biggest city in Britain, from 2-6 September 1666.

2- What happened:

The Great Fire swept through the City of London within the old Roman city wall. The fire was so vast it threatened but thankfully did not hit the City of Westminster, Charles II's Palace of Whitehall, or most of the surrounding suburban areas.

3-What were the injuries? How many people died?:

The total number of casualties brought about by burning and smoke inhalation were believed to be in the single figures according to English historian Adrian Tinniswood. The death toll was only a few according to official records. A more verified number of deaths comes up as only 6. Although there is belief, that there were deaths that were unrecorded.

4-What was the damage?: 

436 acres of the City of London were destroyed. The Great Fire of London destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, including St Paul's Cathedral, and most of the official buildings of the City authorities. The fire is estimated to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the City's 80,000 inhabitants.

5-How did communities respond in the first days and weeks?:

After the Fire, London was completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt. As winter was coming, temporary buildings were constructed for the people. But the buildings were so ill equipped, diseases spread easily and quickly and the winter was too harsh that many died following. King Louis XIV of France, sought help from Queen Henrietta Maria of England to send in aid in the form of food or whatever goods for the people.

6-How did communities respond in the long term?:

The new rebuilding schemes had improvements in hygiene and fire safety for the city. The streets were wider and there were open and accessible wharves along the length of the River of Thames, with no obstacles that were obstructing the river. The buildings were now constructed of brick and stone and not the flammable wood. There were new public buildings created on the sites of destroyed public buildings as well, such as St Paul's Cathedral and Christopher Wren's 50 new churches.

7-What was the (historical) significance of this disaster?:

The Monument To The Great Fire of London was built to commemorate the devastating event. It was built on the site where St Margaret, New Fish Street, the first Church that was destroyed by the fire. While the Golden Boy of Pye Corner monument marks the point in nearby Smithfield where the fire was successfully put out.

The Great Fire of London also led to the birth of the insurance industry and the first fire brigades. Many historians believe that even thought The Great Fire had brought devastation to the city, it also "cleansed" the city by destroying the overcrowdedness and disease that was plaguing the streets. Many liken the City of London to a Phoenix that died but rose from the ashes as new and improved city.