The Great Fire of London: Rats, Disease, and Uncontrolled Fires Tormenting the English in 1666

The Great Fire of London was a massive fire in the ominous year of 1666, which destroyed the homes of more than 80% of the city’s inhabitants, which was around 80,000 people back then. In this guide, we will go over how the fire most likely started, why it took such a toll on the London population, and why it kept growing without them being able to extinguish the flames in time.

You will also learn about how the city was built up, how other competing countries saw the fire as a good thing, and how Christopher Wren helped rebuild churches and houses when it was all over.

Last but not least, you will discover how something else was even more disturbing at this time: The Great Plague of London, a horrible scourge which is believed to have killed more than 100,000 people, struck with ills from rats and a lack of hygiene, around the same time.

Read about or listen to the horrors people in England were confronted with in the beginning of the 17th century.