Image bank: Eyewitness account

The information of Elizabeth Lumley spinster servant to the Lady Montague in Gower Street and of Thomas Cary servant of John Taylor citizen and mercer of London taken the 5th day of May 1668.  (London Metropolitan Archives)

Elizabeth eyewitness account says:

"She sayeth that on Monday last was a sennight about 12 of the clock at night she being in her lady’s house and [deleted] going down into the cellar she smelt an ill smell of burning at which she was very much afrighted and [deleted] the same smell continued near half an hour so that she durst not go to bed for fear thereof and thereupon she heard a noise in the street as calling for lights for that there was a fireball.  And thereupon she opened the door but the fire was out only some of the matter thereof remained on the ground and a candle being put to it [deleted] it fired and run very quick so far as the sayd matter [deleted] lay."  

© London Metropolitan Archives