The destruction of London
By nightfall the streets were clogged with the carts of fleeing Londoners, and the fire was heading down Watling Lane, towards st paul's cathedral. The next day saw the largest devastation. The king and The Duke of York were both busy in the battle against the fire, which was contained until late afternoon, when it leapt over the break at Mercers' Hall and begin to devour Cheapside, London's widest and wealthiest street. While Pepys was busy emptying his house - digging a pit in which he buried 'a parmazan cheese as well as my wine and some other things' he had an idea. 'Blowing up houses... stopped the fire when it was done, bringing down the houses in the same places they stood, and it was easy to quench what little fire was in it'.
Although demolition began to take effect in the east, in the west the fire had demolished Newgate and Ludgate prisons, and was moving along Fleet Street near Chancery Lane. It was seen as far away as Enfield, embers were falling on Kensington, and flames encircled st Paul's Cathedral, covered in scaffolding. This caught fire, soon followed by the wood roof beams. The lead roof melted and rushed down Ludgate Hill, and stones burst from the building. Within a few hours the Cathedral was a wreck.
This marked the height of the blaze. On Wednesday morning the fire reached a brick wall - literally - at Middle Temple and at Fetter Lane. Workers to the chance to pull down more buildings and widen the break. At the same time, the wind reduced and changed direction, turning south and blowing the fire onto itself and into the river. In the north, it was being examined at Smithfield and Holdon Bridge, and the Mayor, finally useful, was directing demolition in Cripplegate
Although demolition began to take effect in the east, in the west the fire had demolished Newgate and Ludgate prisons, and was moving along Fleet Street near Chancery Lane. It was seen as far away as Enfield, embers were falling on Kensington, and flames encircled st Paul's Cathedral, covered in scaffolding. This caught fire, soon followed by the wood roof beams. The lead roof melted and rushed down Ludgate Hill, and stones burst from the building. Within a few hours the Cathedral was a wreck.
This marked the height of the blaze. On Wednesday morning the fire reached a brick wall - literally - at Middle Temple and at Fetter Lane. Workers to the chance to pull down more buildings and widen the break. At the same time, the wind reduced and changed direction, turning south and blowing the fire onto itself and into the river. In the north, it was being examined at Smithfield and Holdon Bridge, and the Mayor, finally useful, was directing demolition in Cripplegate