46 The Great Fire of London
The Great Fire of London The fire in Pepys’ own words stopped by a firebreak on the bridge, yet in the city there was no such luck. A firestorm engulfed the Royal Exchange, the middle-class homes of city professionals and all that stood in its way. As civil unrest threatened, the king put his brother, the Duke of York, in charge of dealing with the fire. York took charge of the controlled demolitions, and his troops were dispatched to quell unrest in the streets. Stories tell that Charles II himself came into the city and pulled down buildings, throwing water onto the flames as everyone that could help did their bit. By the time Saint Paul’s Cathedral fell, pouring moulten lead into the streets, it must have seemed as though the world was ending. Should the firestorm reach the Tower of London, the gunpowder stored there would go up like a bomb, and houses between it and the flames were demolished with explosives, creating a firebreak. As the wind fell on Tuesday night, the firebreaks had finally started to do their job. The raging flames now died down, leaving thousands homeless, terrified and utterly lost in a London that had become unrecognisable. 2 September The spreading flames By and by Jane comes and tells me that she hears that above 300 houses have been burned down to-night by the fire we saw, and that it is now burning down all Fish-street, by London Bridge. …it begun this morning in the King’s baker’s house in Pudding-lane. 3 September Panic in the streets <strong>About</strong> four o’clock in the morning, my Lady Batten sent me a cart to carry away all my money, and plate, and best things, to Sir W. Rider’s at Bednall-greene. Which I did riding myself in my night-gowne in the cart; and, Lord! to see how the streets and the highways are crowded with people running and riding. for all. 4 September Saving the cheese Sir W. Batten not knowing how to remove his wine, did dig a pit in the garden, and laid it in there; and I took the opportunity of laying all the papers of my office […] And in the evening Sir W. Pen and I did dig another, and put our wine in it; and I my Parmazan cheese. 5 September Devastation Lord! what sad sight it was by moone-light to see, the whole City almost on fire, …the saddest sight of desolation that I ever saw; every where great fires, oyle-cellars, and brimstone, and other things burning. 6 September Conspiracy [On discovering a new fire] There is some kind of plot in this (on which many by this time have been taken, and, it hath been dangerous for any stranger to walk in the streets), but I went with the men, and we did put it out in a little time; so that that was well again. Firefighting in the 17th century In a city built mostly of wood, especially one that had endured a total drought since the previous November, small fires were commonplace. Quite apart from domestic candles, fireplaces and ovens, the City of London itself was full of fire hazards. Despite restrictions on where businesses could be located, smithies, foundries, and bakeries, among others, provided plenty of combustible material in the heart of the metropolis. When fires broke out, members of the watch would ring church bells and public-spirited citizens would rally to the call, sometimes with the aid of the local militias. Firefighting equipment was held in parish churches and those facing the flames used not only water, but the buildings themselves. Structures were demolished to provide firebreaks that would block the flames and prevent them from spreading. In fact, it was firebreaks, triggered by gunpowder demolitions, that finally put paid to the spread of the Great Fire of London. 47