Destruction
Up to 430 acres were affected by the fire, much of them within the city walls. Over 13,000 houses, 87 parish churches, 6 chapels, 3 city gates, four bridges, 52 guild halls, a prison and many famous and important buildings had been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands homeless and ruined. Current estimates claim the damage to buildings neared eight million pounds, along with over £2 million worth of goods; the city government's annual income was just £12,000. In contrast, and even though we don't know the exact figure, the death toll was low. Official records cite only five deaths - the Farynor's maid, a shoemaker, an old man who died trying to get a blanket from St. Paul's Cathedral and two people who fell into cellars – but figures eight and seventeen are often given as the death toll. The true number might have been more, but nowhere near the three thousand supposedly killed by a fire in the thirteenth century.
Up to 430 acres were affected by the fire, much of them within the city walls. Over 13,000 houses, 87 parish churches, 6 chapels, 3 city gates, four bridges, 52 guild halls, a prison and many famous and important buildings had been destroyed, leaving tens of thousands homeless and ruined. Current estimates claim the damage to buildings neared eight million pounds, along with over £2 million worth of goods; the city government's annual income was just £12,000. In contrast, and even though we don't know the exact figure, the death toll was low. Official records cite only five deaths - the Farynor's maid, a shoemaker, an old man who died trying to get a blanket from St. Paul's Cathedral and two people who fell into cellars – but figures eight and seventeen are often given as the death toll. The true number might have been more, but nowhere near the three thousand supposedly killed by a fire in the thirteenth century.
Samuel Pepys kept a diary over the time period of the event. The diary is how we know so much about the fire. Pepys kept recording in his diary until he could no longer see. Samuel Pepys kept the journal for many, many, many years. Pepys has helped historians today greatly. Thanks to Pepys all the information about the fire is true and has a primary source to prove it, the diary its self.