Rebuilding Act 1667: New regulations — brick/stone only, wider streets, no overhanging storeys. Implemented slowly (took 10+ years).

Christopher Wren: Designed new St Paul's Cathedral (completed 1711) and 51 city churches. Grand plans for whole city rejected as too expensive.

Fire insurance: First insurance companies created — Nicholas Barbon's "Fire Office" 1680.

Monument: Built 1677 to commemorate fire. Inscription blamed Catholics (added during Popish Plot hysteria, removed 1830).

Blame: Rumours blamed Dutch, French, or Catholics. A French watchmaker (Robert Hubert) confessed and was hanged — probably innocent, possibly mentally ill. Anti-Catholic hysteria would fuel Popish Plot fears a decade later.

This deep dive covers Aftermath & Rebuilding within The Great Fire of London for GCSE History. Revise The Great Fire of London in Restoration England 1660-1685 for GCSE History with 11 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 6 of 17 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Practice questions for The Great Fire of London

Where did the Great Fire of London begin on 2 September 1666?

A. A candle factory on Cheapside
B. Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane
C. The Royal Exchange on Cornhill
D. A timber yard near the River Thames

1 markfoundation

Which of the following best explains why Lord Mayor Bludworth's response to the Great Fire made the situation worse?

A. He ordered too many buildings demolished, creating gaps the fire jumped across
B. He fled London, leaving no authority in charge during the crisis
C. He dismissed the fire as minor and delayed ordering demolitions to create firebreaks
D. He ordered the docks sealed, preventing water supplies from the Thames

1 markfoundation

Quick recall flashcards

How many houses were destroyed?

13,200 houses and 87 churches, including the medieval St Paul's Cathedral. The fire burned for four days, destroying about one-third of the City of London. Remarkably, only 6-8 deaths were officially recorded.

Where did the Great Fire start?

Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane, in the early hours of Sunday 2 September 1666. An unextinguished oven overnight started the blaze that spread rapidly through dry wooden buildings.

Response During the Fire

The Human Cost — What Happened to Ordinary Londoners?

Aftermath & Rebuilding

Practice questions for The Great Fire of London

Quick recall flashcards

11 questions on The Great Fire of London: practise free