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The Great Fire of London

Society and politics

The social context of the fire and its repercussions across the country and beyond.
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Chapter 01

A city and country full of tension and fears

London was still recovering from the Great Plague the year before. Wars and religious tensions added to people’s fears.
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Before the fire

London was recovering from the Great Plague of 1664-65.

Before the fire: war

England was at war with France and the Netherlands. English and Dutch ships were on the brink of battle at the beginning of September 1666.

Before the fire: religious tensions

Most people in England were Protestant, and prejudice against the Catholic minority was common.

Chapter 02

Scapegoats and recovery

Faced with the enormity of the fire’s devastation, a fearful population tried to find someone to blame. However, getting London back on its feet was a more immediate concern.
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During the fire

With little news from London, the whole country wondered what might be happening in the capital.

After the fire: trade relations

Merchants across the country and overseas were concerned about how the fire would affect trade.

After the fire: a financial centre

It was important to get the City of London, a centre for trade, on its feet again.

22 January 1667

War and religious tensions had bred mistrust. An official investigation presented evidence on who was to blame for the fire.

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The fire
People’s lives
Streets and buildings
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Getting the City of London back on its feet

Once the fire stopped, there was no time to lose in getting the City of London, the country’s financial heart, up and running again. On 10 September 1666, the first meeting of the Common Council (the City’s decision-making group) since the Great Fire was held. They congregated at Bishopsgate, unable to meet at the Guildhall as usual as it had been damaged by fire.

The fact that the meeting took place so soon after the fire had been defeated shows how important it was to get the City running again. The Council agreed that it should meet weekly.

First post-fire Common Council meeting minutes
These minutes record discussions about how the City was to start recovering.

Important decisions were made immediately. Streets were to be cleared of rubble and obstructions by their former residents. A sub-committee, covering subsistence and recovery, was set up. The committee could allow freemen of the City to use common ground in Moorfields and other open spaces to ‘exercise their trade and callings’. They were also asked to consider places to relocate the City’s prisons.

At a later meeting on 26 September 1666, the Common Council made further decisions about priorities for repairs. It was agreed that Newgate prison should be repaired and that the Old Bailey and spaces within the Guildhall be made fit for use.

Common Council meeting minutes 26 September 1666
These capture discussions on how the City was to recover.
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