The Great Fire of London, 1666

The view of the medieval City of London burning during the Great Fire of London in 1666. A fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday 2 September in a baker's shop in Pudding Lane – to the north of Old London Bridge – and consequently the city was almost destroyed in three days. The summer had been unusually dry, and the fire spread rapidly assisted by a strong south east wind. Within hours it was beyond control. By the time it was checked the following Wednesday, it had destroyed an estimated 13,000 houses, 87 of the 109 parish churches, 43 Livery Halls, the Royal Exchange and even St Paul's Cathedral. Human casualties were surprisingly low as only six deaths were verified.
In this picture old St Paul’s is seen silhouetted against the fiery red sky. The view was probably taken from near the Inner Temple Gardens and corresponds with the description left by John Evelyn on 4 September:
‘The Fire still rages, and it is now gotten as far as the Inner Temple. All Fleet Street, the Old Bailey, Ludgate Hill, Warwick Lane, Newgate, Watling Street now flaming. The stones of Paul's flew like grenados, the melting lead running down the streets in a stream, and the very pavements glowing with fiery redness. […]’