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German engraving of the Great Fire showing a view of London across the Thames from the south. Huge flames and clouds of smoke billow from the city. Southwark is in the foreground.
German engraving of the Great Fire
Page from a German newspaper with a view of London on fire at the top and text below. In the foreground of the picture is a group of people watching the fire from a hill above Southwark.
German newspaper
Photograph: large black and white engraving with an image of London on fire at the top and text in Dutch, French and English underneath.
Dutch account of the Great Fire
Photograph: small document with text printed in black on white paper with handwritten additions.
Fire relief fund receipt
Dutch map of London after the Fire. In the top half of the page is the map, an image of London on fire and a rebuilding plan. The bottom half contains text in Dutch about the Great Fire.
Dutch map of London after the Fire
Dutch map and accounts of the fire. In the top half of the page is a map of London after the fire, a picture of London burning and a rebuilding plan. Beneath this are 3 printed accounts of the fire.
Dutch map and accounts of the fire
Photograph: handwritten letter in black ink on white paper.
Letter from James Hicks
Proclamation for the national fast. Printed document on discoloured paper. The bottom part of the page is missing.
Proclamation for the national fast day
First page from a printed Spanish account of the Great Fire.
Spanish account of the Great Fire
Title page of a Dutch book about the Great Fire.
Dutch book about the Great Fire
Title page of Paul Lorrain's sermon about the Great Fire.
Sermon preached on the anniversary of the Fire
Photograph: front page of the Great Fire issue of The London Gazette, printed in black ink on white paper.
The London Gazette newspaper

The wider world

 

The first effect of the fire on the rest of the country was a fear that the nation was under attack. Once the post office and the newspaper printers in London burned down, little reliable news could get out about the fire. Rumours spread and towns across England were on the alert for foreigners and arsonists.

As the nation’s capital, the effect of the destruction of one-third of London was far-reaching. Four-fifths of the City of London was gone. This was the financial heart and centre of trade. Merchants from around Britain depended on London for their businesses and while it was out-of-action, they suffered. Even so, a national day of fasting was declared on Sunday 10 October 1666 and money was collected at churches to help destitute Londoners.

London’s plight caught the interest of people in Europe and foreign newspapers printed the story with varying degrees of accuracy. Sometimes they also included dramatic engravings of the fire.
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