The Great Fire of London destroys the medieval city

Starting in the early hours of 2 September 1666 in a bakery on Pudding Lane, the Great Fire burned for four days and destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 churches including St Paul's Cathedral, and most buildings of the City of London. Only six deaths were recorded, but 70,000 of the city's 80,000 inhabitants were made homeless. The fire led to the rebuilding of London in brick and stone and the establishment of fire insurance.