The Great Fire of London: Ignition of Change in 1666

On the early morning of September 2, 1666, London was forever changed. A fire sparked in a small bakery on Pudding Lane grew into one of the most devastating urban disasters in history: The Great Fire of London. This episode of History Deep Dive takes listeners through the packed streets and flammable timber buildings that fed the flames, burning through homes, landmarks like St. Paul’s Cathedral, and leaving 70,000 Londoners homeless. Explore the political unrest, public panic, and social scapegoating that accompanied the disaster, and discover how Londoners rebuilt from the ashes with revolutionary urban planning, new fire safety codes, and insurance innovations that continue to impact cities today. Join us as we delve into the legacy, lessons, and human resilience sparked by the Great Fire of London.