The Great Fire of London Trivia Questions
How much do you really know about The Great Fire of London? Below are 16 true or false statements. Click each one to reveal the answer and explanation.
1.The fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane owned by Thomas Farriner.
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Easy
The fire started in a bakery on Pudding Lane owned by Thomas Farriner.
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Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane is the confirmed origin. A spark from his oven ignited the blaze on September 2, 1666.
2.The Great Fire of London lasted for four days.
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Easy
The Great Fire of London lasted for four days.
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The fire raged from September 2 to September 6, 1666, when it was finally extinguished by creating firebreaks. Four days is the accepted duration.
3.The Great Fire of London was contained within the first day.
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Easy
The Great Fire of London was contained within the first day.
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The fire actually burned for four days, from September 2 to September 6, 1666. It spread rapidly due to strong winds and wooden buildings, defying early attempts to stop it.
4.The Great Fire of London started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in 1666.
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Easy
The Great Fire of London started in a bakery on Pudding Lane in 1666.
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The fire began on September 2, 1666, at Thomas Farriner's bakery on Pudding Lane. This is a well-documented historical fact.
5.The Great Fire of London was started by a cow kicking over a lantern.
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Medium
The Great Fire of London was started by a cow kicking over a lantern.
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This is a persistent myth. The fire started in a bakery, not a stable, and no cow was involved. The actual cause was an unattended oven at Thomas Farriner's bakery.
6.The Great Fire of London killed over 10,000 people.
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Medium
The Great Fire of London killed over 10,000 people.
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Official records list only six confirmed deaths from the fire, though the true number may be slightly higher due to unrecorded victims. It was far fewer than 10,000.
7.The Great Fire of London was deliberately started by a French spy named Robert Hubert.
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Medium
The Great Fire of London was deliberately started by a French spy named Robert Hubert.
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Robert Hubert, a French watchmaker, confessed and was hanged, but historians agree he was a scapegoat and could not have started the fire.
8.St. Paul's Cathedral was completely destroyed when its lead roof melted and poured down the streets.
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Medium
St. Paul's Cathedral was completely destroyed when its lead roof melted and poured down the streets.
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The intense heat turned St. Paul's lead roof into molten metal, which flowed like lava. The cathedral was left a smoldering ruin.
9.The Great Fire of London killed over 100,000 people, mostly from smoke inhalation.
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Medium
The Great Fire of London killed over 100,000 people, mostly from smoke inhalation.
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Despite destroying 13,200 homes, the recorded death toll is only six. Modern estimates suggest a few hundred, not 100,000.
10.Only six people are recorded to have died in the Great Fire of London.
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Medium
Only six people are recorded to have died in the Great Fire of London.
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Official records list just six confirmed deaths, but the true number is likely much higher, especially among the poor and undocumented.
11.The Great Fire of London destroyed approximately 13,200 houses.
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Medium
The Great Fire of London destroyed approximately 13,200 houses.
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Contemporary records and modern estimates agree that about 13,200 homes were consumed by the flames over four days, though official figures vary slightly.
12.The fire was stopped by using gunpowder to blow up buildings and create firebreaks.
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Hard
The fire was stopped by using gunpowder to blow up buildings and create firebreaks.
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King Charles II ordered buildings to be demolished with gunpowder. This controversial tactic finally stopped the fire from spreading further.
13.The fire burned for four days because the mayor refused to destroy nearby buildings early on.
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Hard
The fire burned for four days because the mayor refused to destroy nearby buildings early on.
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Lord Mayor Sir Thomas Bloodworth hesitated to authorize demolition, famously saying 'A woman could piss it out.' This delay allowed the fire to spread, contributing to its four-day rampage.
14.The fire was finally extinguished by a sudden, miraculous rainstorm after four days of burning.
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Hard
The fire was finally extinguished by a sudden, miraculous rainstorm after four days of burning.
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No rainstorm ended the fire. It was stopped by firebreaks and changing winds. Rain fell later, but after the fire was already under control.
15.The Great Fire of London was caused by a French Catholic plot.
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Hard
The Great Fire of London was caused by a French Catholic plot.
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At the time, rumors blamed French and Dutch conspirators, but no evidence ever supported this. The fire was an accident. A French watchmaker was wrongly executed for starting it.
16.The Great Fire of London led to the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral.
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Hard
The Great Fire of London led to the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral.
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The old St Paul's was destroyed in the fire. Sir Christopher Wren designed the new cathedral, which was completed in 1710.
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