THE MONUMENT
THE MONUMENT. DESIGNED BY ROBERT HOOKE FRS IN CONSULTATION WITH SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN, WAS BUILT 1671-1677. ON THE SITE OF ST MARGARET FISH STREET HILL. TO COMMEMORATE THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON 1666. THE FIRE BURNT FROM 2 TO 5 SEPTEMBER. DEVASTATING TWO-THIRDS OF THE CITY, AND DESTROYED 13.200 HOUSES. 87 CHURCHES. AND 52 LIVERY COMPANY HALLS.

THE MONUMENT. A FREESTANDING FLUTED DORIC COLUMN TOPPED BY A FLAMING COPPER URN. IS 61M/202FT IN HEIGHT. BEING EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE WESTWARD FROM THE SITE OF THE BAKERY IN PUDDING LANE WHERE THE FIRE BROKE OUT. ITS CENTRAL SHAFT ORIGINALLY HOUSED LENSES FOR A ZENITH TELESCOPE. AND ITS BALCONY, REACHED BY AN INTERNAL SPIRAL STAIRCASE OF 311 STEPS. AFFORDS PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE CITY. THE ALLEGORICAL SCULPTURE ON THE PEDESTAL ABOVE WAS EXECUTED BY CAIUS GABRIEL CIBBER AND SHOWS CHARLES II COMING TO ASSIST THE SLUMPED FIGURE OF THE CITY OF LONDON.

ST MAGNUS THE MARTYR
FISH STREET HILL. TO THE SOUTH. LEADS TO ST MAGNUS THE MARTYR. A WREN CHURCH, ALONGSIDE WHICH IS THE ANCIENT STREET WHICH LED TO THE MEDIEVAL LONDON BRIDGE.

www.themonument.org.uk

The monument commemorating the Great Fire of London that broke out in 1666 near where the monument is located. The monument is built as a Doric column at a height of 61 meters, which is the distance between its location and the place where the fire broke out.

The monument was photographed that day Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

On the front of the base of the monument is a relief made by Caius Gabriel Cibber with descriptions and symbols related to the fire
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On one side of the base there is a Latin description of the occurrence of the fire
ANNO CHRISTI MDCLXVI DIE IV. NONAS SEPTEMBRESS
HINC IN ORIENTEM PEDVM CCII. INVERVALLO QVÆ EST
HVJVSCE COLVMNֳ¦ ALTITVDO ERVPIT DE MEDIA NOCTE
INCENDIVM, QVOD VENTO SPIRANTE HAVSIT ETIAM LONGINQVA
ET PARTES PER OMNES POPVLABVNDVM FEREBATVR
CVM IMPETV ET FRAGORE INCREDIBILI. XXCIX TEMPLA
PORTAS PRÆTORIVM, ÆDES PVBLICAS PTOCHOTROPHIA
SCHOLAS BIBLIOTHECAS INSVLARVM MAGNVM NVMERVM
DOMVVM CCDOOOO OOOCC, VICOS CD. ABSVMPSIT
DE XXVI REGIONIBVS XV. FVNDITVS DELEVIT ALIAS VIII LACERAS
ET SEMIVSTAS RELIQVIT VRBIS CADAVER AD CDXXXVI. IVGERA
HINC AB ARCE PER TAMESIS RIPAM AD TEMPLARIORVM FANVM
ILLINC AB EVRO AQVILONALI PORTVS SECVNDVM MVROS
AD FOSSÆ FLETANÆ CAPVT, PORREXIT ADVERSVS OPES CIVIVM
ET FORTVNAS INFESTVM ERGA VITAS INNOCVVM VT PER OMNIA
REFERRET SVPREMAM ILLAM MVNDI EXVSTIONEM

VELOX CLADES FVIT EXIGVVM TEMPVS EANDEM VIDIT
CIVITATEM FLORENTISSIMAM ET NVLLAM
TERTIO DIE CVM IAM PLANE EVICERAT HVMANA CONSILIA
ET SVBSIDIA OMNIA COELITVS VT PAR EST CREDERE
IVSSVS STETIT FATALIS IGNIS ET QVAQVAVERSVM
ELANGVIT
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and an English translation appears in a plate below the Latin text
TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN INSCRIPTION ABOVE:
IN THE YEAR OF CHRIST 1666, ON THE 2ND SEPTEMBER, AT A DISTANCE EASTWARD FROM THIS PLACE OF 202 FEET, WHICH IS THE HEIGHT OF THIS COLUMN, A FIRE BROKE OUT IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, WHICH, THE WIND BLOWING, DEVOURED EVEN DISTANT BUILDINGS, AND RUSHED DEVASTATING THROUGH EVERY QUARTER WITH ASTONISHING SWIFTNESS AND NOISE. IT CONSUMED 89 CHURCHES, GATES, THE GUILDHALL, PUBLIC EDIFICES, HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, A GREAT NUMBER OF BLOCKS OF BUILDINGS, 13,200 HOUSES, 400 STREETS. OF THE 26 WARDS, IT UTTERLY DESTROYED 15, AND LEFT 8 MUTILATED AND HALF-BURNT. THE ASHES OF THE CITY, COVERING AS MANY AS 436 ACRES, EXTENDED ON ONE SIDE FROM THE TOWER ALONG THE BANK OF THE THAMES TO THE CHURCH OF THE TEMPLARS, ON THE OTHER SIDE FROM THE NORTH-EAST GATE ALONG THE WALLS TO THE HEAD OF FLEET-DITCH. MERCILESS TO THE WEALTH AND ESTATES OF THE CITIZENS, IT WAS HARMLESS TO THEIR LIVES, SO AS THROUGHOUT TO REMIND US OF THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD BY FIRE. THE HAVOC WAS SWIFT. A LITTLE SPACE OF TIME SAW THE SAME CITY MOST PROSPEROUS AND NO LONGER IN BEING. ON THE THIRD DAY, WHEN IT HAD NOW ALTOGETHER VANQUISHED ALL HUMAN COUNSEL AND RESOURCE, AT THE BIDDING, AS WE MAY WELL BELIEVE, OF HEAVEN, THE FATAL FIRE STAYED ITS COURSE AND EVERYWHERE DIED OUT. *(BUT POPISH FRENZY, WHICH WROUGHT SUCH HORRORS, IS NOT YET QUENCHED.])
* THESE LAST WORDS WERE ADDED IN 1681 AND FINALLY DELETED IN 1830.
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On another side of the base appear in Latin the actions taken by King Charles II to deal with the fire
CAROLVS II C. MART. F. MAG. BRIT. FRANC. ET HIB. REX. FID. D.
PRINCEPS CLEMENTISSIMVS MISERATVS LVCTVOSAM RERVM
FACIEM PLVRIMA FVMANTIBVS IAM TVM RVINIS IN SOLATIVM
CIVIVM ET VRBIS SVÆ ORNAMENTVM PROVIDIT TRIBVTVM
REMISIT PRECES ORDINIS ET POPVLI LONDINENSIS RETVLIT
AD REGNI SENATVM QVI CONTINVO DECREVIT VTI PVBLICA
OPERA PECVNIA PVBLICA EX VECTAGLI CARBONIS FOSSILIS
ORIVNDA IN MELIOREM FORMAM RESTITVERENTVR VTIQVE ÆDES
SACRÆ ET D PAVLI TEMPLVM A FVNDAMENTIS OMNI MAGNI=
FICENTIA EXTRVERENTVR PONTES PORTÆ CARCERES NOVI
FIERENT EMVNDARENTVR ALVEI VICI AD REGVLAM RESPON=
DERENT CLIVI COMPLANARENTVR APERIRENTVR ANGIPOR=
TVS FORA ET MACELLA IN AREAS SEPOSITAS ELIMINAREN=
TVR CENSVIT ETIAM VTI SINGVLÆ DOMVS MVRIS INTER=
GERINIS CONCLVDERENTVR UNIVERSÆ IN FRONTEM PARI
ALTITVDINE CONSVRGERENT OMNESQVE PARIETES SAXO
QVADRATO AVT COCTO LATERE SOLIDARENTVR VTIQVE
NEMINI LICERET VLTRA SEPTENNIVM ÆDIFICANDO IMMO=
RARI AD HÆC LITES DE TERMINIS ORITVRAS EEGE LATA
PRÆ SCIDIT ADIECIT QVOQVE SVPPLICATIONES ANNVAS ET
AD ÆTERNAM POSTERORVM MEMORIAM H. C. P. C.
FESTINATVR VNDIQVE RESVRGIT LONDINVM MAJORE CELERITA=
TE AN SPLENDORE INCERTVM VNVM TRIENNIVM ABSOLVIT
QVOD SECVLI OPVS CREDEBATVR
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and an English translation appears on the plate below the Latin text
TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN INSCRIPTION ABOVE
CHARLES THE SECOND, SON OF CHARLES THE MARTYR, KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, A MOST GRACIOUS PRINCE, COMMISERATING THE DEPLORABLE STATE OF THINGS, WHILST THE RUINS WERE YET SMOKING PROVIDED FOR THE COMFORT OF HIS CITIZENS, AND THE ORNAMENT OF HIS CITY; REMITTED THEIR TAXES, AND REFERRED THE PETITIONS OF THE MAGISTRATES AND INHABITANTS OF LONDON TO THE PARLIAMENT; WHO IMMEDIATELY PASSED AN ACT, THAT PUBLIC WORKS SHOULD BE RESTORED TO A GREATER BEAUTY, WITH PUBLIC MONEY, TO BE RAISED BY AN IMPOSITION ON COALS; THAT CHURCHES, AND THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PAUL’S, SHOULD BE REBUILT FROM THEIR FOUNDATIONS, WITH ALL MAGNIFICENCE; THAT THE BRIDGES, GATES, AND PRISONS SHOULD BE NEW MADE, THE SEWERS CLEANSED, THE STREETS MADE STRAIGHT AND REGULAR, SUCH AS WERE STEEP LEVELLED AND THOSE TOO NARROW MADE WIDER, MARKETS AND SHAMBLES REMOVED TO SEPARATE PLACES. THEY ALSO ENACTED, THAT EVERY HOUSE SHOULD BE BUILT WITH PARTY-WALLS, AND ALL RAISED OF AN EQUAL HEIGHT IN FRONT, AND THAT ALL HOUSE WALLS SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED WITH STONE OR BRICK; AND THAT NO MAN SHOULD DELAY BUILDING BEYOND THE SPACE OF SEVEN YEARS. FURTHERMORE, HE PROCURED AN ACT TO SETTLE BEFOREHAND THE SUITS WHICH SHOULD ARISE RESPECTING BOUNDARIES, HE ALSO ESTABLISHED AN ANNUAL SERVICE OF INTERCESSION, AND CAUSED THIS COLUMN TO BE ERECTED AS A PERPETUAL MEMORIAL TO POSTERITY. HASTE IS SEEN EVERYWHERE, LONDON RISES AGAIN, WHETHER WITH GREATER SPEED OR GREATER MAGNIFICENCE IS DOUBTFUL, THREE SHORT YEARS COMPLETE THAT WHICH WAS CONSIDERED THE WORK OF AN AGE.
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On another side of the base is described in Latin the establishment of the monument and the mayors who were responsible for its establishment
INCEPTA
RICHARDO FORD, EQUITE
PRÆTORE LOND. A. D. MDCLXXI
PERDVCTA ALTIVS
GEORGIO WATERMAN EQ:PV
ROBERTO HANSON EQ:PV
GVLIELMO HOOKER EQ:PV
ROBERTO VINER EQ:PV
IOSEPHO SHELDON EQ:PV
PERFECTA
THOMA DAVIES EQ PRÆVRB.
ANNO DOM.NI MDCLXXVII
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and on the plate below the English translation of the Latin text
TRANSLATION OF THE LATIN INSCRIPTION ABOVE
(THIS PILLAR WAS)BEGUN BY SIR RICHARD FORD, KNT., BEING LORD MAYOR OF LONDON, IN THE YEAR 1671; CARRIED HIGHER IN THE MAYORITIES OF SIR GEORGE WATERMAN, KNT. SIR ROBERT HANSON, KNT. SIR WILLIAM HOOKER, KNT. SIR ROBERT VINER, KNT. SIR JOSEPH SHELDON, KNT. AND FINISHED IN THE MAYORITY OF BY SIR THOMAS DAVIES, IN THE YEAR OF THE LORD 1677.
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The monument also won the London Heritage Award for 2010, as can be seen on the plaque at the foot of the base of the monument
PRESENTED BY THE CITY HERITAGE SOCIETY
AND THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF PAINTERS - STAINERS

CITY HERITAGE AWARD
2010

as well as an award from the Royal Institute of British Architects for 2010
ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH ARCHITECTS
REGIONAL ARCHITECTURE AWARD
2010
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The sign indicating Pudding Lane where the fire started, photographed in 2024 by Amit Gairola Click for a larger image

The farthest point reached by the fire is commemorated in the statue of The Golden Boy of Pye Corner Click for sign's details