A Shower of Firedrops, 1666

"...all over the Thames, with one's face in the wind, you were almost burned with a shower of firedrops."
~ Samuel Pepys, about the Great Fire of London

The Great Plague (a.k.a. the bubonic plague or the black death) was the scourge of London in 1665. It started tapering off during 1666, but then Londoners suffered a fire from September 2-5, 1666 that destroyed the homes of most of the residents.

Three works by unknown artists:



A crown of flames, The Monument to the Great Fire of London
by Sir Christopher Wren
photo by Chris John Beckett
Completed in 1677, The Monument stands 202 ft high and is positioned 202 ft from the spot in Pudding Lane on which the Great Fire is believed to have started.

Great Fire of London (a theatre show poster)
by Milan Topalovic

Great Fire of London board game cover
by Andreas Resch

The Great Fire of London 1666
by Rita Greer

Links:

* Online Great Fire of London game for kids
* A quick history of the Great Fire
* Info about the Great Fire of London from the National Archives
* Great Fire of London 1666 map
* A pocket history of the Great Fire
* A stained-glass window depicting the Great Fire of London, Temple Church
* Robert "Lucky" Hubert, a Frenchman who falsely confessed to starting the Fire.
* Here is an old post with masks from the Plague.
* The Second Great Fire of London