People’s lives
How did Londoners experience the fire and how did their lives change as a result?
Fire was used a lot in everyday life for heating, lighting and cooking, and in industry.
Samuel Pepys's maid woke him to tell him about the fire. How do you think others found out about the fire?
The fire became a cover for looters. Others were suspected of spreading the fire on purpose.
Pepys packed his ‘best things’ onto a cart to take them to safety. What do you think other people saved?
Jo Morgan was watching the fire from an attic a few streets away when a fireball whizzed past his head. How would it feel to see the fire?
Lady Ann Hobart paid £20 to hire carts to take her belongings to safety. Carters saw an opportunity to charge large sums.
Homeless Londoners camped in the fields outside the City. What do you think happened to them?
A royal proclamation stated that churches should store people’s belongings. Temporary markets were set up so people could buy food.
About 100,000 people lost their homes during the fire, but we don’t know for sure how many people died.
There were many disputes between tenants and landlords about who should pay to rebuild houses. The Fire Court helped to resolve these.
The areas devastated by the fire became dangerous places. Unstable walls fell on passers-by and thieves lurked in the ruins.
Elizabeth Peacock sought help from a relief fund set up in October 1666. What was this relief fund and how did it help?
