1666 saw London’s “Great Fire.” A baker’s maid accidentally sets fire to his shop; the resulting fire destroys 13,000 homes and 80+ churches in 7 days. Londoners sing, “Goodness, Gracious, Great Balls of Fire!”

Same fire, different view. The old St. Paul’s cathedral is center; the Tower of London on the right.

St. Paul’s cathedral on fire. St. Paul’s cathedral not on fire.

Contemporary map of London showing the torched areas of the city (in white).

Same map with burned areas in pink.

Memorial to the Great Fire in downtown London.

The new cathedral, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

Film still depicting plague victims.

The infamous “Bring out your dead” scene from Monte Python and the Holy Grail (PG, 1974).

 

   

The plague virus (200x).