Fire in London

   The restoration of Charles II to the throne was to be followed by two great disasters: the first was the Great Plague of 1665, followed a year later by the Great Fire. Plague had been a constant threat in London since Medieval times. The outbreak of 1665 began in St. Giles-in-the-Fields and spread to devastate the over-crowded, impoverished areas of Stepney, Shoreditch, Clerkenwell, Cripplegate, St. Giles's and Westminster. Within the City itself, it was relatively controlled. The King and his courtiers left London, not to return until February of the following year. The Duke of Albermarle was the only one of the King's ministers to remain in London. He personally took responsibility for the areas beyond the city walls. At the time of the great fire, plague was still present in London. Early in the morning of Sunday 2nd September 1666, a baker's shop in Pudding Lane, near London Bridge caught fire. The houses nearby were overcrowded and made of wood, and the fire quickly spread to the riverside where large quantities of highly combustible materials were kept. The early destruction of the water wheel at the bridge meant that the areas round about had no water supply with which to fight the fire. The fire spread rapidly around the city.
   The fire was driven deeper and deeper into the capital by a wind which blew constantly for the first three days. The army and dockworkers were drafted in to help. On the fourth day, the wind dropped and the fire slowly came to a halt.
   The results were devastating: only a fifth of the walled city remained. London was to be restored. A famous architect, Christopher Wren, participated in the restoration and rebuilding of London. According to the plan of reconstruction the system of streets was to be kept, due to the lack of governing funds. Four kinds of houses were specified by the Rebuilding Act of 1667, to be built only of brick and stone. Christopher contributed a lot to the Reconstruction and rebuilding of the city. He took the responsibility for restoration of churches and renewal of the Palaces. Thanks to his efforts and of other workers the city turned to be a more remarkable commercial centre. .
   The fire also highlighted the need for public services. Until then, each householder had held responsibility for lighting, repairing and cleaning the street in front of his house and policing his area. The Sewers Act of 1671 created the Commissioners of Sewers, a body responsible for the upkeep, drainage and cleanliness of London's streets. To finance this they were given the right to charge rates. .