After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal Episode: Great Fire of London: Who Started It? Release Date: January 6, 2025

Hosts: Anthony Delaney & Maddy Pelling
Produced by: History Hit

Introduction & Historical Context

In this gripping episode, hosts Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling delve deep into one of England's most infamous disasters: the Great Fire of London in 1666. They set the stage by painting a vivid picture of London the day before the fire—a bustling, overcrowded city of narrow streets and wooden houses teeming with life and chaos.

Maddy Pelling ([02:03]) describes London as:

"...a city molded by hundreds of years of inhabitants. Its streets were narrow, formed by closely packed wooden houses with crooked overhangs and swinging shop signs that blotted out the daylight..."

Despite its charm and status as a commercial hub, London was rife with noise, filth, and unsanitary conditions. Yet, it was also a center of commerce and learning, boasting gleaming shops along Cheapside and the mighty Thames River at its heart.

The Origin of the Fire in Pudding Lane

The episode zeroes in on Pudding Lane, the epicenter of the Great Fire. Pudding Lane, named from the medieval term for end trails, was a lively area near the Thames, notorious for its stench and congested pathways. On the evening of September 2, 1666, Thomas Farriner, a respected baker, closed his shop after ensuring his oven fire had died down—a detail later pivotal in tracing the fire's origin.

Anthony Delaney ([14:12]) questions the myth surrounding the fire's origin:

"Did the fire really start in Pudding Lane or is it just a myth?"

Maddy Pelling ([14:31]) confirms:

"You are correct. So, it really did start there. Or so historians and archaeologists believe."

Thomas Farriner's bakery, known as the Royal Bakery, was famed for supplying hard tack to the Royal Navy. Despite Farriner's claims that the bakehouse oven was extinguished, an unforeseen spark ignited the fire, setting off a chain reaction that would engulf London.

The Spread of the Fire

As midnight gave way to the early hours of September 2nd, a dry, hot wind fanned the flames from Farriner's bakery, causing the fire to leap from house to house. Pete Semanczyk, a retired firefighter and current City of London guide, provides expert insight into the fire's rapid spread:

Pete Semanczyk ([24:43]):

"The timbers caught fire, and it's a difficult situation. You are at risk of the building collapsing. That's when you get all the embers being thrown up in the air... it all just becomes bigger and the fire would spread."

The proximity of flammable materials along the Thames wharves amplified the disaster, turning a contained house fire into a sprawling conflagration that devoured 300 homes by morning.

Response and Failures

Efforts to combat the blaze were hampered by inadequate leadership and overconfidence. Maddy Pelling ([29:13]) explains how Lord Mayor Sir Thomas Bloodworth underestimated the fire's threat:

"He jokes that a woman could piss it out. And with that, he heads off back to bed. This is a mistake."

Despite having tools like buckets, ladders, and the innovative 'squirt'—a large syringe-like device for moving water—Bloodworth's dismissive attitude delayed effective action. The lack of decisive leadership allowed the fire to spiral out of control, highlighting the city's unpreparedness for such a catastrophe.

Personal Accounts: Samuel Pepys

The episode features an evocative excerpt from Samuel Pepys' diary, offering a personal glimpse into the chaos:

Samuel Pepys ([33:39]):

"Some of our maids sitting up late last night to get things ready against our feast today. Jane called us up about three in the morning to tell us of a great fire in the city..."

Pepys recounts witnessing the fire's relentless advance from his vantage point on a boat on the Thames, describing how the flames consumed landmarks and instilled widespread fear and uncertainty among Londoners.

Maddy Pelling ([37:17]) reflects on Pepys' observations:

"He saw Londoners scrambling to carry their treasures to safety... the fire creeping around the corners of streets to devour whole houses..."

The Psychological Impact

The hosts emphasize the enduring legacy of the Great Fire, not just in its physical devastation but also in its psychological imprint on Londoners. The fire shattered the collective sense of security in a city already scarred by recent wars and the ongoing Second Anglo-Dutch War.

Anthony Delaney ([23:44]) muses on the imagery that makes the Great Fire so memorable:

"Little balls of glowing beauty but ferocity that this fire starts to take hold. And there's something even more insipid about that... it's devastating."

Conclusion & Upcoming Episode

As the fire raged on, consuming homes, churches, and businesses, uncertainty loomed over London's future. The episode concludes with Anthony and Maddy setting the stage for the next installment, where they will explore the continued spread of the fire and its aftermath.

Maddy Pelling ([41:35]) teases the continuation:

"Samuel Pepys had taken a boat out onto the Thames and watched from the river for an hour as the conflagration raged in every direction... Trust was disintegrating fast in a city whose face was cracking and burning off."

Listeners are left with a profound understanding of how a single spark can transform a thriving metropolis into a haunted landscape, setting up a compelling narrative for the forthcoming episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Maddy Pelling ([02:03]):

  "London was also the envy of Europe, a place of commerce and learning."

• Pete Semanczyk ([24:43]):

  "Fire is a living, breathing creature. It eats anything in its path, it breathes oxygen, it generates heat."

• Samuel Pepys ([33:39]):

  "So I down to the waterside and there got a boat and through bridge and there saw an infinite great fire on this and the other side of the bridge."

Final Thoughts:

This episode masterfully intertwines historical facts with personal narratives, bringing to life the terror and chaos of the Great Fire of London. Through expert commentary and vivid storytelling, Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling engage listeners, offering both educational insights and compelling drama. As they navigate through the intricate details of 17th-century London, the episode serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility of human settlements in the face of nature's fury.

Be sure to tune in to the next episode as the hosts continue to unravel the mysteries and repercussions of the Great Fire of London.