A thought has gone through my head from time to time about the 1666 London Fire which destroyed Old St. Paul’s Cathedral. How does a fire burn down a stone cathedral? Ah, tonight I found my answer in LONDON THE BIOGRAPHY by Peter Ackroyd. THE BUILDING WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN WOOD SCAFFOLDING–in the process of BEING COMPLETELY RESTORED. That little tidbit explains a lot. ”That night the fire spread from Cheapside down to the Thames, along Corn hill,Tower Street, Fenchurch Street, Gracechurch Street and to Baynard’s Castle. It had gone so far down Cheapslide that it took hold of St. Paul’s, which, by chance, was surrounded by wooden scaffolding. Well, there is the answer!
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
