Restoration England 1660-1685Key Facts

Response During the Fire

Part of The Great Fire of London — GCSE History

This key facts covers Response During the Fire within The Great Fire of London for GCSE History. Revise The Great Fire of London in Restoration England 1660-1685 for GCSE History with 9 exam-style questions and 4 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 5 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 5 of 17

Practice

9 questions

Recall

4 flashcards

📌 Response During the Fire

Action	Who	Effect
Firebreaks (gaps created by demolishing buildings to stop fire spreading)	Eventually ordered; King and Duke of York supervised	Demolished buildings ahead of fire — only effective measure
Water squirts	Parish fire equipment	Useless — fire too big, water pressure too low
Fire posts	Set up around city	Tried to coordinate response; limited success
King's presence	Charles II personally helped fight fire	Boosted morale; showed he cared (unlike fleeing during Plague)

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

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.

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.

Response During the Fire

📌 Response During the Fire

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Practice Questions for The Great Fire of London

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