Extracts from a pamphlet entitled: ‘His Majesty’s Declaration to His City of London Upon the occasion of the late Calamity by the Lamentable FIRE’, printed by John Bull and Christopher Barker Printers to the KING’S most Excellent Majesty, 1666. Catalogue ref: SP 29/171 f95.
Preparing for the rebuilding of London, Charles II published a series of building regulations for the city. Hopefully these would reduce the chance of a similar fire.
- List the key words used to describe the fire in the title page. These are often used in other documents in this collection. Can you suggest why?
- Why does Charles II explain his own feelings about the fire do you think?
- Create a table. One side explain the new rule. On the other, explain how the rule was designed to reduce the threat of fire.
- How does this source link to the 1671 proclamation ‘Against New buildings’ in parts of London without royal permission seen in this collection?
Transcript
[Title page]
‘His Majesty’s Declaration to His City of London Upon the occasion of the late Calamity by the Lamentable FIRE’, printed by John Bull and Christopher Barker Printers to the KING’S most Excellent Majesty
[Pamphlet extracts]
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As no particular Man hath sustained any loss or dammage by the late terrible and deplorable Fire in his Fortune or Estate, in any degree to be compared with the loss and damage We Our Self have sustained, so it is not possible for any Man to take the same more to heart, and to be more concerned and sollicitous for the rebuilding this famous City, as with much expedition as is possible: And since it has pleased God to lay this heavy judgment upon
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Us all this time, as evidence of his displeasure for Our sins, We do comfort Our Self with some hope, that he will upon Our due humiliation before him, as a new instance of his signal blessing upon Us, give Us life, not only to see the foundations laid, but the buildings finished, of a much more beautiful city then is at tis time consumed; and that as the seat and situation of it is most convenient and noble, for the advancement of Trade , of any City in Europe
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In the first place the woful experience in this late heavy visitation hath sufficiently convinced all men of the pernicious consequences which have attended the building with Timber, and even with Stone itself, and the notable benefit of Brick, which in so many places hath resisted and even extinguished the Fire; And we do therefore declare Our express Wil and Pleasure, That no man whatsoever shal presume to erect any House or Building, great or small, but of Brick or Stone, and if any man shal do the contrary, the next Magistrate shall forthwith cause it to be pulled down, and such further course shal be taken for his punishment as he deserves; And We suppose that the notable benefit many men have received from those Cellars which have been well and strongly arched, wil persuade most men who build good Houses, to practice that good husbandry, by Arching all convenient places.
We do declare, That Fleet Street, Cheapside, Cornhill, and all other eminent and notorious Streets, shall be such a breath, as may with God’s blessing prevent the mischief that one side may suffer if the other be on fire, which was the case lately in Cheapside, the precise breath of which several streets, shall be upon advice with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen
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shortly published with many other particular Orders and Rules, which cannot yet be adjusted; in the meantime, We resolve though all streets cannot be of, equal breath, yet none shal be so narrow as to make the passage un-easie or inconvenient, especially towards the Water-side, nor wil we suffer any Lanes or Allyes to be erected, but where upon mature deliberation the same shal be found absolutely necessary, except such place shal be set aside which shal be designed onely for buildings of that kind, and from whence no publick mischief may probably arise.
Their irrepairable damage and loss by the late Fire, being next to the hand of God in the terrible Wind, to be imputed to the place in which it first brake out, amongst small Timber houses standing so close together, that as no remedy could be applied from the River for the quenching thereof, to the contiguousness of the Buildings hindering and keeping all possible relief from the Landside, We do resolve and declare, That there shal be a fair Key or Wharf on all the Riverside, that no house shall be erected within so many foot of the River
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.any houses to be inhabited by Brewers, or Diers, or Sugar-Bakers, which Trades by their continual Smoaks contribute very much to the unhealthiness of the adjacent places, but We require the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London upon a ful consideration, and weighing all conveniences and inconveniences that can be foreseen, to propose such a place as may be fit for all those Trades which are carried on by smoak to inhabit together, or at least several places for the several quarters of the Town for those occupations, and in which they shal find their accompt in convenience and profit as wel as other places shal receive the benefit in the distance of the neighbourhood, it being Our purpose that they who exercise those necessary professions, shal be in all respects as wel provided for and encouraged as ever …
Simplified transcript
Page 1
Nobody has experienced the as much loss or damage caused by the recent terrible fire as your own King. It is not possible for any man to take this more to heart, or to be more caring and concerned about the rebuilding of this famous city as quickly as possible. Just as God has placed this heavy judgment upon
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us because of our sins, we take comfort from his forgiveness as an example of his blessing. He gives us life not only to see the foundations laid, but the buildings finished, for an even more beautiful city than before it was destroyed by fire. The city will be suitable and impressive for the advancement of trade as any in Europe.
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In the first place the sad experience of this terrible event has convinced all men of the danger of building with wood or even using stone. It has shown the advantage of using brick, which in many places resisted and even stopped, the fire. We therefore wish that no man shall build any house or building, great or small unless made of brick or stone. If any man fails to do this, the Magistrate will order it to be pulled down, and the person will be punished. We hope that the benefit many have seen from cellars built with strong arches, will persuade most men who build good houses, to use the same practice when necessary.
We do declare that Fleet Street, Cheapside, Cornhill, and all other important and famous streets, shall be wider. This with God’s blessing will prevent the other side from catching fire at the same time. This was seen in Cheapside. The width of various streets will be decided by the Lord Mayor and his officers.
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All the rules will be published soon and cannot be changed. In the meantime, we accept that all streets cannot be the same width. But none shall be so narrow that they are difficult to use, especially near the river. We will not allow any lanes or alleys to be built, unless absolutely necessary.
The great damage and loss by the late fire, next to the hand of God, was caused by the terrible wind. The fire is believed to have first broken out amongst the small closely built wooden houses. The river [Thames] could not be used to put out the flames because the buildings were so close together preventing getting help inland. We declare be there will be a quay [dockside area] along the riverside and no house shall be built near river. [Thames]
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Houses used by brewers [making beer], or dyers [colouring cloth], or sugar-bakers [refining raw sugar] whose constant smoke makes nearby places unhealthy will be advised by the Lord Mayor and the men who run London. They will suggest a place where all those trades which use fire can be housed together or moved to different parts of the city. These occupations, it is hoped will find it convenient and profitable and people will benefit from their distance. It is hoped that these trades will be looked after and encouraged.
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