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A Plan for Rebuilding the City of London after the Great Fire in 1666; Designed by that Great Architect Sr Chrisr. Wren; & approved by King and Parliament, but unhappily defeated by Faction.
This is an 18th-Century copy of Sir Christopher Wren's plan for rebuilding London after the great fire destroyed seven-eighths of the city. Wren, at this point an Oxford astronomer with comparatively little architectural experience, was among the first to present a plan to Charles II after the catastrophe. The narrow streets which had helped the fire's progress are replaced on his plan by monumental avenues radiating from piazzas. The influence of the classical buildings and formal street plans which Wren had studied in Paris are a clear influence. He also proposes the construction of a Thameside quay from Bridewell to the Tower, replacing the ramshackle wooden wharfside buildings with warehouses. A vignette of 'Thamesis' (the putative river god) with London burning in the background has been added in the lower margin. Wren's plan was never used. Perhaps due to his eargerness to produce a plan quickly, he was inaccurate in making his ground plan and did not consider contours adequately. Neither king nor parliament were to ever take it seriously despite the title's assertion that it was an approved plan.
The British LibraryWren, Christopher
1666
1666