The Great Fire of London - 1666
The Great Fire of London poem for kids, by Paul Perro, tells the story of the time, hundreds of years ago, when a fire started in a baker's shop in London, and spread throughout the city. It's a fun poem, but educational too. We hope you enjoy it.

Drawing by Rosie Hogg, Stroud.
The year was 1666 It was a Sunday night. The baker’s shop in Pudding Lane Glowed with an orange light.
The baker's oven was on fire The flames began to spread. Thomas the baker was upstairs He was asleep in bed.
Before too long the walls caught fire There billowed out black smoke. The fire made such a loud noise Tom suddenly awoke.
He woke up all his family And got them out of there. He called out for the firemen And called out for the mayor.
The firemen saw the shops nearby And said “Let's knock these down, Or else they will catch fire too And it will spread through town.”
But no, the Mayor would not do that, He said “Just hang about, The fire is not that bad, you know Wee could soon put that out!”
So they tried to put the flames out But they just grew higher. Sure enough they spread, soon half of London was on fire.
King Charles sitting in his palace Thought something must be done He sent out a fire engine With a big water gun.
They went to the Thames for water But at the river bank The fire engine slipped in mud, Fell in the Thames, and sank!
When the king was told about this He was really upset. He realised that the fire posed A very serious threat.
He decided that he must help, Put on his boots and cloak, And he marched out of his palace Towards the fire and smoke.
He helped some fire-fighters who Had started to despair, And everyone was really glad That the good king was there.
Eventually, the wind died down - The fire died down too. London would have to be rebuilt There was much work to do.
The damage caused would have been less In sixteen sixty six If the houses weren't made from wood, If they were made from bricks.
It was indeed the mayor whom many blame for the spread of the great fire of London, as he refused to demolish nearby houses. When he first saw the fire he is reported to have said that a lady could urinate on it and put it out (this has become “Wee could soon put that out” in the poem.”) It is also true that several fire engines fell into the Thames while they were being filled with water, and that the king helped fight the fire.
If you would like more information about the Great Fire, please see
www.fireoflondon.org.uk
Back to the British History from the Great Fire of London
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