On this day in 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed thousands and thousands of structures, leading to the near total rebuild of what was one of Europe's largest cities. The fire began in a baker's shop on Pudding Lane and spread quickly in a city that frequently had fires. London's buildings were almost entirely wooden and covered in a flammable substance called pitch. The city was densely populated with 350,000 residents, and buildings often crossed over streets, making it even easier for the fire to carry over block by block.
The fire stopped at the Thames, which was too large for it to cross. The Royal Navy started using "fire hooks" to pull down buildings that were still on fire but failed to stop the spread. They then turned it up a notch and blew up a bunch of buildings in advance of the flames to create a wide zone that the fire couldn't cross. Over 13,000 homes were destroyed, not to mention the churches, businesses, and major landmarks that were flattened. A giant memorial column now stands where the fire was sparked.
You can learn more about the Great Fire of London at Historic UK.
