Great Fire of London Exhibition

Looking at one of the most destructive of natural disasters to have ever hit the capital, the Great Fire of London exhibition at Museum of London is an interactive show that tells the story of London's burning through the voices of those that were there at the time.

Focusing on eye witness acounts the Great Fire of London exhibition reveals the personal side of the disaster, the effect upon the cities economy and the way in which the King was actively involved on the night it took blaze.

The exhibition also aims to dispell the myths that surround the fire of 1666 and look at everyone who was affected, from the Lord Mayor of London, who claimed "a woman could piss it out" to the church warden of St Mary Woolchurch who lost his house and contents in the fire.

A dramatic video installation transports visitors to the Museum of London back to the streets of seventeenth century London, and lets them see in person how the bustling city was full of merchants, traders, craftsmen and workers whose lives were destroyed around them. You can relive the experience of 2nd September 1666 through the Great Fire of London exhibition with a collection of contemporary objects that bear testimony to the strength of the fire and the futile efforts people made to quell the blaze.

Personal accounts of the fire from Samuel Pepys diary reveal how many Londoners set about saving their belongings. Whilst he was busy burying his bags of gold in his garden, other Londoners were rescuing books, plates from churches and chickens, before they were burnt. The most popular item to be saved from the fire according to Pepys was Virginals, as there were as many as one in three boats on the Thames carrying one as people escaped from the fire.

Despite the enormity of the fire and amount of damage that was done, the Great Fire of London exhibition demonstrates the amazingly small cost to human life. Less than 10 people were killed during the great fire, despite one third of the total area of seventeenth century London being destroyed.

Focusing on the restoration of the city and the survival of its people, the exhibition also sees how London responded to the fire, and the effects that it had on the city as a whole. With new churches designed by Wren and the wrangling over who was to blame, visitors to the Museum of London can see for themselves the way in which the city rebuilt and recovered itself.

The Great Fire of London exhibition at Museum of London runs until winter 2009.

Venue: Museum of London
Nearest tube: Barbican

See below for other half term London events

Half Term London Events and Activities

Half Term at Globe Theatre

Half Term at London Wetland Centre

Natural History Museum Events

Share

 Digg

 Del.icio.us

 Facebook

what's this?