Images from a plague broadsheet, 1666. Which makes more sense, considering the fire destroyed nearly 90 percent of the homes in the city. 10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Great Fire of London. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The Great Fire of London happened in Central London in 1666. Fire has a tendency to destroy things, including bodies, and many, many people have pointed out that the deaths of the poor and middle-class people living in the city were probably never recorded. But for all that fire, the traditional death toll reported is extraordinarily low: just six verified deaths. The city burned through Wednesday, and the fire—now known as The Great Fire of London—destroyed the homes of 70,000 out of the 80,000 inhabitants of the city. Smithsonian Institution, bones and fragments of charred bodies of the middle and lower class—forensic technology wasn’t exactly advanced in 1666, several hundred and quite possibly several thousand” people likely died in the fire. Vote Now! 5 days – the period that the Great Fire burned (although smaller fires continued for days and weeks afterwards). The city burned through Wednesday, and the fire—now known as The Great Fire of London—destroyed the homes of 70,000 … In 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed much of the centre of London, but also helped to kill off some of the black rats and fleas that carried the plague bacillus. Six people have committed suicide by jumping off of it, and two have fallen accidentally to their deaths. So while this particular fun fact is fun, it’s probably not true. Hubert was convicted, despite some misgivings about his fitness to plead, and hanged at Tyburnon 28 September 1666. It was a ghastly disease. City records indicate that some 68,596 people died during the epidemic, though the actual number of deaths is suspected to have exceeded 100,000 out of a total population estimated at 460,000. We do not know for sure how many people died in the Great Fire. It began in a bakery on Pudding Lane, likely from the reignition of a kitchen fire experienced early that evening. Get the best of Smithsonian magazine by email. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Scientific American, Story Collider, TED-Ed and OnEarth. It is not known how many people died in the fire. 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In 1627, the then 10- or … + Read key facts about the fire The first day of the fire An example of the urge to identify scapegoats for the fire is the acceptance of the confession of a simple-minded French watchmaker named Robert Hubert, who claimed that he was an agent of the Pope and had started the Great Fire in Westminster. The commonly quoted figure is just six. Advertising Notice It is believed to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the 80,000 people that lived in the city. He later changed his story to say that he had started the fire at the bakery in Pudding Lane. Myth #1: The Great Fire stopped the Great Plague. Fire! In all, 15% of the population perished during that terrible summer. Terms of Use Continue By … In his book The Great Fire of London: In That Apocalyptic Year, 1666, author Neil Hanson writes that “several hundred and quite possibly several thousand” people likely died in the fire. or Read on for key facts from the first day of the Great Fire of London. However, there are still some enduring myths and misconceptions that the Museum of London’s Fire! Deaths in London were recorded in Bills of Mortality, kept by the Worshipful Company of Parish Clerks. On Sunday, September 2, 1666, London caught on fire. Great Fire Of London Home The fire lasted for three days, from 2 September until 5 September. 1665 – the year that the great plague struck London (at the time of the fire the plague had died down in London but was still raging across England). 10 Facts About The Fire London at the time of the fire. Above: Map showing the extent of the fire at the close of Sunday (arrow points to Pudding Lane, where the fire started). exhibition (May 2016 - April 2017) aimed to tackle. 17th Annual Photo Contest Finalists Announced. On Sunday, September 2, 1666, London caught on fire. Rose Eveleth is a writer for Smart News and a producer/designer/ science writer/ animator based in Brooklyn. Only a few deaths are certain, but for many of the victims there were no records. The Great Fire of London is a very well-known disaster, and has been researched and written about extensively ever since 1666. Which makes more sense, considering the. In June 6137 people died, in July 17036 people and at its peak in August, 31159 people died. It began in London in the poor, overcrowded parish of St. Giles-in-the-Field. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Keep up-to-date on: © 2020 Smithsonian Magazine. Officials didn't sort through bones and fragments of charred bodies of the middle and lower class—forensic technology wasn’t exactly advanced in 1666. The outbreak was caused by Yersinia pestis, the bacterium associated with other plague outbreaks before and since the Great Plague of London. The Number of the People who die in The Great Fire of London When we look at the figures of the people who die in The Great Fire of London in the year of 1666 we can see that the reported number is 6 but on the other hand it is said that the people who are from the lower class died but they are not reported. 15-20% – the proportion of London’s population who had died from the plague. 100,000 – the estimated population of the City of London at the time of the fire. Bubonic Plague was known as the Black Death and had been known in England for centuries. + Read more about London in 1666 The devastating fire. One of the most famous disasters in London's history, the Great Fire of 1666 devastated the heart of England's capital, destroying more than 13,000 houses and badly damaging landmarks including St … It started slowly at first but by May of 1665, 43 had died. It is not known how many people died in the fire. The Great Fire of London happened in Central London in 1666. In his book The Great Fire of London: In That Apocalyptic Year, 1666, author Neil Hanson writes that “ several hundred and quite possibly several thousand” people likely died in the fire. To remember the fire, the city of London erected a monument. It’s probably not actually true. The Great Fire of London burned from September 2 to September 6, 1666. These documents listed the number of people who were christened and buried in each parish. Privacy Statement After his death, it became apparent that he had been on board … Give a Gift. Only around half a dozen people were reported to have died in the Great Fire, however it is commonly accepted that the number was probably in the hundreds. Cookie Policy You might hear this fun fact repeated on tours or forums: more people have died from falling off the monument than died in the fire. It is believed to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the 80,000 people that lived in the city. The fire lasted for three days, from 2 September until 5 September. Dave Fowler • History in Numbers • All third party trademarks are hereby acknowledged.