The Great Fire of London started in 1666 in a bakery owned by Thomas Faynor in Pudding Lane. The fire spread quickly through the densely packed wooden buildings and thatched roofs, fueled by strong winds. There were no organized fire services, so attempts to douse the flames with buckets of water failed to stop the fire's spread over four days, destroying much of the city. After the fire, the rebuilt city used bricks instead of wood for construction and a fire service was established to prevent future disasters.

1. The Great Fire
of London

2. The famous ‘Great Fire of London’
started on Sunday 2 September 1666
in a bakers shop.

3. The shop was in ‘Pudding Lane’ and
belonged to Thomas Faynor who
baked for the King.

4. The baker forgot to put out the fire he
used to bake bread. Some fire wood
was set alight and the fire began.

5. The buildings in London at the time
were made of wood and had thatched
roofs so they burnt very easily.

6. The buildings were also very close
together, so the fire spread from one
street to another quickly.

7. A very strong wind also helped the
fire to spread quickly across the city.

8. There were no firemen or fire
engines so people tried to put the fire
out with buckets of water.

9. The fire destroyed many buildings in
London. They were later rebuilt using
bricks instead of wood.

10. Samuel Pepys kept a diary of what he
saw during the fire. He watched the
fire from across the River Thames.

11. The fire continued burning for four
days. Luckily only 4 people were
reported to have died.

12. After the fire a fire service was set up
in London to make sure that it did not
happen again.

13. A statue was made to remember the
‘Great Fire of London’.
The Monument still stands in London
today.