Great Fire of London – What Happened?

Overview

How did a small bakery fire become one of the most famous disasters in British history?

In this engaging KS1 history workshop, pupils discover the story of the Great Fire of London and explore how a fire that began in a bakery on Pudding Lane spread across much of the city.

Through storytelling, role play, object handling and discussion, children learn about life in London in 1666, how people fought fires before modern fire brigades existed and how we know about the event today through the diary of Samuel Pepys.

Alongside the historical story, pupils are introduced to simple, age appropriate fire safety messages that help them understand how firefighters keep people safe today.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the session, pupils will be able to:

• Recall key facts about the Great Fire of London.
• Understand how the fire started and spread.
• Explore how people fought fires in 1666.
• Discover how Samuel Pepys helped us learn about the event.
• Compare firefighting in the past with firefighting today.
• Understand basic fire safety messages.

Key Enquiry Questions

Throughout the workshop, pupils investigate questions such as:

• Where did the Great Fire of London begin?
• Why did the fire spread so quickly?
• How did people fight fires before modern fire engines?
• How do we know what happened in 1666?
• How do firefighters keep us safe today?

Workshop Activities

Fire Safety Today

Pupils begin by exploring how firefighters help people in the modern day.

Through discussion and demonstration, they discover:

• When to call 999.
• The role of the Fire and Rescue Service.
• How smoke alarms help keep people safe.
• What to do if they discover a fire.
• The importance of “Get Out, Stay Out, Call 999”.
• What to do if clothing catches fire using “Stop, Drop and Roll”.

These simple safety messages are delivered in an engaging and age appropriate way.

Journey to 1666

Using imaginative storytelling, pupils travel back in time to London in 1666.

They discover:

• What London was like during the seventeenth century.
• Why many buildings were made of wood.
• Where the fire started.
• The role of Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane.
• How long the fire lasted.

Fighting the Fire

Pupils explore how people tried to stop the fire before modern fire brigades existed.

Using replica objects and role play, they investigate:

• Leather fire buckets.
• Water squirts.
• Fire hooks.
• Early fire engines.
• The role of soldiers and local people.

Children discover how difficult firefighting was before modern equipment and compare these methods with those used today.

Samuel Pepys and the Story of the Fire

Pupils learn how we know so much about the Great Fire through the diary of Samuel Pepys.

Using simple historical enquiry, they discover how diaries, drawings and written accounts help us understand events from the past.

Reflection

The workshop concludes with a discussion exploring what pupils have learned about the Great Fire of London and how firefighting has changed over the last 350 years.

Children reflect on the similarities and differences between firefighting in 1666 and today.

Museum Experience

Following the workshop, pupils take part in a guided visit to the museum’s historic fire galleries.

During this session they will discover:

• Historic firefighting equipment.
• Early fire engines.
• How firefighters worked before modern technology.
• How firefighting has changed over time.
• The role of firefighters in keeping communities safe.

Students then continue exploring the museum independently, discovering vehicles, equipment and stories connected to the history of firefighting.

Curriculum Links

This workshop supports learning across several areas of the KS1 curriculum, including:

History

• Events beyond living memory.
• Significant historical events.
• Similarities and differences between past and present.
• Historical enquiry.

PSHE

• Keeping safe.
• Emergency services.
• Personal safety.

Skills Developed

Pupils will develop:

• Historical enquiry.
• Observation.
• Listening and communication.
• Comparison and contrast.
• Teamwork.
• Recall and storytelling.

Visit Information

This workshop forms part of a full museum learning day, running from 10:00am until 2:00pm.

During the day, groups rotate through a programme of activities consisting of:

• One 45 minute Great Fire of London workshop.
• One 45 minute guided museum experience.
• Two 45 minute self guided museum exploration sessions.
• One 45 minute lunch break.

This varied programme combines facilitated learning with opportunities for independent exploration across the museum’s galleries.

Practical Information

Suitable for: KS1

Workshop duration: 45 minutes

Museum visit: Full learning day (10:00am to 2:00pm)

Group size: Up to 35 pupils per group

Daily capacity: Up to three groups (approximately 105 pupils) can be accommodated each day, with groups rotating through the day’s activities.

Accessibility: We are committed to making our learning programme accessible to all learners. Please let us know about any access requirements when booking so we can adapt the session wherever possible.

Why Choose This Workshop?

Combining one of Britain’s most famous historical events with practical fire safety learning, this workshop helps pupils understand both the past and the present. Through storytelling, role play and authentic museum collections, children discover how the Great Fire of London changed history while learning how firefighters continue to protect communities today.