This source analysis covers Interpretation Analysis Practice 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 12 of 17 in this topic. Use this source analysis to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

📜 Interpretation Analysis Practice

"The Great Fire of London, though devastating in the short term, should ultimately be understood as a transformative event that benefited the city. The destruction of medieval London's overcrowded, timber-built warrens created the opportunity for a planned, stone-built capital with wider streets and improved sanitation."

— Interpretation A, urban history of Restoration London

How Convincing Is This?

Supporting evidence: Christopher Wren rebuilt 51 churches including the new St Paul's Cathedral (completed 1711). The Rebuilding Act 1667 required brick and stone construction and wider streets. Fire insurance companies were founded as a direct result. The rebuilt city was cleaner and more fire-resistant than the medieval one it replaced.

Challenging evidence: 13,200 houses and 87 churches were destroyed across 373 acres. Over 100,000 people were made homeless. Many poorer Londoners could not afford to return to the rebuilt city, displaced permanently. Wren's grand rebuilding plan was rejected; the new city largely followed the old medieval street pattern.

Grade 9 Model Paragraph:

This interpretation is convincing to an extent because the rebuilding of London after 1666 did produce genuine improvements: the Rebuilding Act 1667 imposed brick and stone construction, Christopher Wren rebuilt 51 churches, and the fire created the preconditions for fire insurance and better urban planning. However, the interpretation is less convincing as a complete account because over 100,000 people were made homeless and many poorer Londoners were permanently displaced; Wren's grand replanning was also rejected, meaning the new city largely followed medieval street patterns.

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.

What Do Historians Think?

Key Terms You Must Know

Interpretation Analysis Practice