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The king creates codes for rebuilding London after the Great Fire...



Item # 663075

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September 17, 1666

THE LONDON GAZETTE, England, September 17, 1666 

* The Great London Fire disaster
* Charles II of England creates safety codes


Certainly one of the more notable events in London history was the Great Fire which began on September 2. Very shortly thereafter, in an effort to rebuild London in a safe manner, the King issue various directives as to how the city would be rebuilt.
This text takes nearly half of the back page with a few portions including: "In the first place, upon the desires of the Lord Mayor...He is pleased to prohibit the hasty building of any edifices till such speedy care be taken for the re-edification of the city as may best secure it from the like accidents, & raise it to a greater beauty and comeliness than formerly it had...required to pull down what shall  contrary to this Prohibition be erected...no person erect any house or building but of brick or stone...strongly arching their cellars by which divers persons have received notable benefit in the late Fire. That Fleet Street, Cheap-side, Cornhill, and all other eminent streets, be a breadth to prevent the mischief one side may receive from the other by fire..." with much, much more. The text essentially created an early form of a "building code" to prevent similar disasters in future.
Great to have this report in the London Gazette, and from less than 2 weeks after the fire ended.
Complete as a single sheet newspaper, 7 by 11 inches, very nice condition.

Note: This, along with the issue of 9/24/1666, are considered (according to a collector who is an expert in insurance history) to be foundational in regards to the development of modern-day insurance.

Category: The 1600's and 1700's