# London’s Great Fire in 1666 razed 13,000 houses 2026-08-12T22:52:39+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet A small fire in Thomas Farynor's bake shop on Pudding Lane ignited London in September 1666, destroying over 13,000 houses, 89 churches and 52 Guild Halls. The maid failed to extinguish the oven fire, sparking the blaze that spread rapidly through the city's wooden structures. Dry summer conditions and strong east winds fuelled the flames. The Lord Mayor's indecision on creating fire breaks allowed the fire to consume half the city by September 4. King Charles II and the Duke of York eventually ordered demolitions using gunpowder from the Tower of London, but the explosions sparked rumours of a French invasion. The fire was finally extinguished by September 6, leaving thousands homeless and financially ruined as the city recovered from the Great Plague. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: 1666, Great Fire of London, King Charles II, London history, Pudding Lane, urban disaster Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/londons-great-fire-in-1666-razed-13000-houses/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/londons-great-fire-in-1666-razed-13000-houses/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.