Bringing the Great Fire of London to Life

Year 2 were fortunate to take part in an exciting and immersive workshop on Monday about the Great Fire of London, led by the brilliant History Man, Mr Cawdell. From the moment the workshop began, the children were captivated by his incredible knowledge, enthusiasm and dramatic storytelling, which truly brought history to life.

Gathered around a giant map of London, the pupils learned how the fire began in Pudding Lane in 1666 and watched how it rapidly spread through the city. They also discovered how the disaster changed the way houses were built afterwards, helping to prevent such devastation from happening again.

One of the highlights for the children was the opportunity to dress up in period costumes from 1666. There was plenty of laughter as pupils admired each other’s outfits and wigs, imagining what life might have been like at the time. They also explored objects from the period, including weapons, and learned about how fleas carried by animals could spread disease to people.

The workshop finished with a fantastic hands-on activity outdoors. Each child had the chance to operate an old-fashioned water pump and attempt to put out a blazing fire set behind a replica of a traditional black-and-white house from 1666. It was an exciting and memorable way to understand the challenges people faced when trying to control the fire.

It was a wonderful two hours of full historical immersion, and the children came away with a vivid understanding of life in London during one of the most famous events in British history.