A Blaze That Sparked Panic
On September 2, 1666, fire erupted in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane, engulfing London for five days. As winds carried embers across the dry, wooden city, terrified residents quickly suspected arson rather than accident, fueling fear and violence against foreigners.
A City Turns on Itself
Rumors that the French or Dutch had set the fire triggered brutal attacks on immigrants. Londoners, already battered by the plague and war, found it easier to accuse than accept misfortune. Even a woman carrying chicks was mutilated, suspected of hiding incendiaries.
The Search for a Culprit
Though the fire was spread naturally by wind and sparks, suspicion overwhelmed reason. Robert Hubert, a mentally unstable Frenchman, falsely confessed to starting the blaze and was executed despite evidence showing he couldn’t have committed the act.
Blame That Outlived the Flames
Official investigations found no conspiracy, but Londoners persisted in blaming Catholics. Memorials and plaques embedded the idea into public memory, feeding anti-Catholic sentiment for decades after the city rose again from its ashes.
In September 1666, a bakery fire on Pudding Lane erupted into a five-day inferno that destroyed 80% of London’s medieval city.
As flames devoured churches and homes, fear turned to panic. Whispers of arson and foreign plots spread faster than the fire itself…🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/SEIczJI4RF
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) April 26, 2025