Just a stone’s throw from the Monument, you will find an unassuming plaque many visitors pass by without knowing its significance. The monument was completed in 1877, some 11 years after The Great Fire of London, to commemorate the tragedy that destroyed four-fifths of the city.
It took around 50 years to fully rebuild the affected parts of the City of London, as previously wooded houses were replaced by brick and stone structures.
The event is mostly immortalized today in the form of the nursery rhyme “London’s Burning”, while others remember learning about how it broke out in Thomas Farriner’s (or Faryner’s) bakery before engulfing the city.
READ MORE: Huge cave network hidden under London car park was once home to thousands
It is this burning memory some 358 years after the event that encourages tourists to visit the monument in droves. Step out of a London Underground station and you’ll see walking tours, group photos and people queuing to enjoy the 360 degree viewing platform at the top.
But understandably most visitors will overlook a small plaque showing the exact spot where the fire broke out. Located 202ft from the monument on Pudding Lane, it almost looks like a manhole cover until closer inspection.
The marker itself simply shows the year 1666 in Roman numerals, complete with an image of the Great Fire. Historians used measurements from the monument and old maps to mark the exact position of Thomas Farriner’s furnace that started the fire.
You can sign up to get the most exciting events for the new bars and restaurants in London sent directly to your WhatsApp from the team.
To sign up, you must already have WhatsApp. All you have to do is click on this link and select “join the community”.
No one will be able to see who is registered and no one can send messages except for the team.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and advertisements from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out whenever you want. To leave our community click on the name at the top of the screen and select “leave group”.
If you are curious, you can read our privacy notice.
Click here to sign up for alerts.
On a concrete building opposite you will find another plaque which says “near this place stood the shop belonging to Thomas Faryner. The king’s baker where the great fire of September 1666 began.”
You will also find other monuments to the Great Fire all over London today. These include The Golden Boy of Pye Corner on Giltspur Street which was built in the belief that the sin of gluttony caused the disaster, while you will also find a column just south of the Temple Church.
To see the other videos in our London’s Hidden Secrets series, see our topics page.
Don’t miss the biggest news from North London. Sign up to our newsletter HERE for all the latest daily news and more.
