Restoration London: the Great Plague and the Great Fire

Just after the king returned in 1660, London was hit by two disasters in two years: plague in 1665 and fire in 1666.

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The Great Plague, 1665

Plague returned to London in 1665. The Bills of Mortality, weekly lists of deaths, recorded thousands each week at the worst point in September.
Historians estimate about 100,000 people died, roughly a quarter of London's population. The real number was probably higher than the records showed, because some groups were left out.
Houses with plague were shut up with the family inside and marked with a red cross and the words 'Lord have mercy upon us'. The rich, including the king, left the city.

The Great Fire, 1666

On 2 September 1666 a fire started in Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane.
Wooden houses packed close together, a dry summer and a strong wind spread the flames. The fire burned for four days.
It destroyed more than 13,000 houses, 87 parish churches and old St Paul's Cathedral. Only a handful of deaths were recorded.
The diarist Samuel Pepys described the fire, and even buried his parmesan cheese in his garden to save it.

Rebuilding

New rules said houses should be built of brick or stone, not wood, and some streets were widened.
Sir Christopher Wren designed the new St Paul's Cathedral and many new churches.
The Monument to the fire is 202 feet (62 m) tall and stands near where the fire started.
After the fire, businesses offering fire insurance were set up in London.
Worked example

Why did the Great Fire spread so far and so fast?

  1. Most houses were made of wood and built very close together.
  2. The summer had been dry, so everything burned easily.
  3. A strong wind blew the flames from street to street, and there was no fire brigade to stop it.

Answer: Wooden, crowded buildings, dry weather and a strong wind.

Key idea

Great Plague 1665: about 100,000 died, around a quarter of Londoners; Bills of Mortality; red crosses on doors. Great Fire from 2 September 1666 in Farriner's bakery, Pudding Lane; four days; over 13,000 houses, 87 churches and old St Paul's destroyed. Rebuilt in brick and stone; Wren's St Paul's; the Monument; fire insurance began.

Key words
Restoration
The return of the monarchy in 1660, when Charles II became king.
1660
The Restoration: Charles II becomes king.

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  1. What did the Bills of Mortality record?

    1. Deaths in London, parish by parish
    2. Births only
    3. Taxes paid
    4. Plays performed
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    Answer: Deaths in London, parish by parish

    They were weekly lists of deaths.

  2. Roughly what share of London's population died in the Great Plague?

    1. About one hundredth
    2. All
    3. About nine tenths
    4. About a quarter
    Show the answer

    Answer: About a quarter

    About 100,000 people, around a quarter, died.

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Checked by the GCSE-ready editorial team, 17 October 2026. Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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