Page 39 - Social Science.docx

The Great Fire of 1666
Cimmie Owencroft
On the night of 2nd September 1666, a small flame ignited Pudding Lane, London. The origin of this flame was in the King's bakery owned by Thomas Farriner, where it is suspected to have been started by a spark that fell onto a nearby fuel pile. From that moment, the city of London fell into chaos. The fire began to spread at approximately 1 in the morning, and continued until the 6th of September. This horrific event in British history is imperative in understanding the history of London and how the residents were able to rebuild the damage of the fire to the famous city it is today. After the city was left in ruins, it was clear to the British government that something needed to be done to ensure this kind of immense damage did not occur again. The government decided to focus on a strict set of construction rules and guidelines. These new rules, known as the Building Codes, changed and developed the way houses and buildings were structured, making them safer in almost every aspect. In addition to the building codes, a multitude of other inventions aided the reconstruction of London. With the help of a few intelligent architects, the city of London was brought into a new age of construction. Without the Great Fire of 1666, the English government would have never been driven to mandate changes to the building codes. These building codes, along with new rules and inventions, marked a breakthrough in urban reconstruction. _________________________
Cimmie Owencroft, ‘23, plans to study animal psychology and behavior in university.
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