The Great Fire of London - A deep dive : London

The Great Fire of London - A deep dive

Let's talk about the Great Fire of 1666. It started at a baker's shop on Pudding Lane and quickly engulfed the city for days. What's fascinating is how it shaped modern London. The rebuilding efforts led by Christopher Wren introduced new architecture, and fire safety laws were completely overhauled.

Architecture: Wren's influence includes the mighty St. Paul’s Cathedral, which is a sight to behold.
Legislation: Post-fire laws mandated stone buildings and proper spacing to prevent such disasters.

The fire was devastating, but without it, London might've looked very different today. It just goes to show how resilience shapes history.

Submitted 10 months, 2 weeks ago by HistoryBuff76

That baker on Pudding Lane must have never heard the end of it. Imagine being the guy who accidentally sets off the fire that burns down most of London... yikes. Makes burning dinner seem not so bad in comparison.

10 months, 2 weeks ago by PuddingLaneSurvivor

It wasn't just architecture and safety laws – the fire also changed laws regarding urban planning and even led to the creation of the first insurance companies. The scale of the catastrophe was a turning point in many different aspects of society.

10 months, 2 weeks ago by OldBaileyGossip

I've heard theories that the fire was set on purpose as some sort of real estate power move. Probably not true, but it's fascinating how events like this always seem to breed conspiracy theories!

10 months, 2 weeks ago by Conspiracy_Chris

Here's a tidbit - did you know only 6 verified deaths were recorded from the Great Fire? It's crazy low considering the massive damage. But then again, records back then weren't exactly gonna win any awards for accuracy.

10 months, 2 weeks ago by LDNFacts101

Sure, the fire shaped London, but to say we should be grateful for it is a stretch. People died, homes were destroyed. The city paid a huge price for those 'improvements'.

10 months, 2 weeks ago by TheSkepticalOne

Every time I walk past Pudding Lane I try to imagine what it was like back then. Hard to picture the old wooden London before all the stone and brick we see today. Makes you appreciate the strict building codes we have now.

10 months, 2 weeks ago by bornandraisedLDN

Wren’s work on St Paul's Cathedral and other buildings really did change the face of London. Studying his influence on modern architecture is a trip! There were so many innovations in his designs that are seriously underappreciated. It's not just the aesthetic but the structural ingenuity too!

10 months, 2 weeks ago by ModArchitect

Totally agree on the resilience part. It's just mind-blowing that such a devastating event led to so many positive changes. I've read that the fire helped to get rid of the plague as well, acting like a giant disinfectant. Anyone know if that's true?