London has burned many times across the centuries.
Its day of judgement revisited again and again.
All over the Thames with one's face in the wind,
you were almost burned with a shower of fire drops.
Above 10,000 houses all in one flame.'
the noise and crackling and thunder of the impetuous flames.'
the shrieking of women and children,
the hurry of people, the fall of towers,
houses and churches was like a hideous storm
The Great Fire Of London burned for seven days.
The ruins resembling the picture of Troy.
Over 13,000 buildings were destroyed.
It was the calamity of the age,
but the smouldering hole at the heart of the city would prove to be a huge inspiration.
Plans were drawn up to bring a new order of beauty to London.