London Burned 360 Years Ago Tomorrow — Rome Rebuilt on New Streets, London Rebuilt on the Old Ones — Woody Magazine, Sept. 1, 2026
London Burned 360 Years Ago Tomorrow — Rome Rebuilt on New Streets, London Rebuilt on the Old Ones — Woody Magazine Woody Magazine We write the things that aren't news Sept. 1, 2026 (Tue.) Humanities London Burned 360 Years Ago Tomorrow — Rome Rebuilt on New Streets, London Rebuilt on the Old Ones A redrawn city was on the king's desk within six days. Not one of the five plans was built. Woody, Editor In Three Lines Fire broke out in a bakehouse on Pudding Lane before dawn on September 2, 1666. Four days later, 85 percent of the walled city was gone. Six days after the flames died, Christopher Wren laid a redrawn London in front of Charles II. Evelyn, Hooke and Newcourt followed. None of the plans was built. What stopped them was not small-minded merchants. It was the price of land. London taxed coal to raise the compensation money, and what the tax could buy was a dozen widened streets. Tomorrow marks 360 years. Before dawn on Sunday, Se...