Monument to the Great Fire of London
The following text is taken from 'History of The Monument with some account of the great fire of London, which it commemorates' by Welch, Charles, 1848-1924.
This famous pillar, built to commemorate the Great Fire of London, stands in the small open square known as Monument Yard, on the east side of Fish Street Hill. This thoroughfare is described by Stow as the northern contnuation of Bridge Street, "Commonly called (of the Fishmarket) New Fishstreete," where, he says, "be fishmongers and fayre tauerns; on Fishstreet hill and Grassestreete, men of diuers trades, grocers and habardashers." Here, in ancient times, stood the famous market-place of which Eastcheap still denotes the situation, but which also probably extended from Billingsgate and the Bridge at one end to Leadenhall at the other. Fish Street Hill was in the line of approach to old London Bridge, and formed the principal and, until the building of the first Blackfriars Bridge in 1769, the only highway between London and Southwark. Since the removal of London Bridge to the westward, the Monument, standing back from the main thoroughfare, has lost much of its former prominence. Some time ago, however, it gave its name to the neighbouring station of the District Railway. Monument Yard occupies the site of the church and churchyard of St. Margaret, New Fish Street. The parish was united with that of St. Magnus after the Great Fire of London, and the church of St. Margaret, which Stow describes as "a proper church but without monuments," was not re-built. In 1667 an Act of Parliament was passed "for re-building the City of London," the 29th section of which provides as follows:- "And the better to preserve the memory of this dreadful Visitation, Be it further enacted, That a Columne or Pillar of Brase or Stone be erected on or as neere unto the place where the said Fire soe unhappily began as conveniently may be, in perpetuall Remembrance thereof, with such Inscription thereon, as hereafter by the Maior and Court of Aldermen in that behalfe be directed." For carrying out the purposes of this Act the Corporation were empowered by a subsequent section to levy a duty of twelve pence a ton upon all coals brought into the Port of London. The construction of the Column was confided to the masterly hands of Sir Christopher Wren, who prepared several designs. The selection and approval of his final design was made only after the careful consideration of several alternative plans which he had submitted. Wren at first proposed a more characteristic pillar, with sculptured flames of gilt bronze issuing from the loopholes of the shaft, and a phoenix on the summit rising from her ashes, also of gilt bronze. This, on further consideration, he found unsuitable, and then designed a statue of Charles II, 15 feet high. The statue was, however, found to be impracticable, on the ground of expense, and the present vase of flames was therefore substituted. The following letter of Sir Chrisopher Wren, printed by Elmes, in his biography of the great architect, fully descibes his views as to the most suitable ornament for the summit of the Monument:- "In pursuance of an order of the Committee for City Lands, I doe herewith offer the several designes which some monthes since I shewed his Majestie, for his approbation; who was then pleased to thinke a large ball of metall gilt would be most agreeable, in regard it would give an ornament to the town, at a very great distance; not that his Majestie disliked a statue; and if any proposal of this sort be more be more acceptable to the city, I shall most readily represent the same to his Majestie. I cannot but comend a large statue, as carrying much dignitie with it; and that which would be more vallueable in the eyes of forreiners and strangers. It hath been proposed to cast such a one in brasse, of twelve foot high, for £1,000. I hope (if it be allowed) wee may find those who will cast a figure for that money, of fifteen foot high, which will suit the greatnesse of the pillar, and is (as I take it) the largest at this day extant; and this would undoubtedly bee the noblest finishing that can be found answerable to soe goodly a worke, in all men's judgements. A ball of copper, nine foot diameter, cast in several pieces, with the flames and gilt, may well be done, with the iron worke and fixing, for £350; and this will be most acceptable of any thing inferior to a statue, by reason of the good appearance at distance, and because one may goe up into it, and upon occasion use it for fireworks. A phoenix was at first thought of and is the ornament in the wooden modell of the pillar, which I caused to be made before it was begun; but, upon second thoughtes, I rejected it, because it will be costly, not easily understood at that highth, and worse understood at a distance; and lastly, dangerous by reason of the sayle the spread winges will carry in the winde. The balcony must be made of substantiall well forged worke, there being noe need, at that distance, of filed worke; and I suppose (for I cannot exactly guesse the weight), it may be well performed and fixed, according to a good designe, for fourscore and ten poundes, including painting. All which is submitted to your consideratin. (Signed) CHRISTOPHER WREN. July 28, 1675." The monument, as ultimately carried out, is of the Doric order, and constructed of Portland stone. It consists of a pedestal about 21 feet square and 40 feet high, with a plinth of 28 feet square, and a fluted shaft 120 feet high and 15 feet in diameter. On the abacus is a balcony encompassing a moulded cylinder, which supports a flamming vase of gilt bronze, indicating its commemoration of the Great Fire. Defoe quaintly describes the Monument as "built in the form of a candle," the top making a "handsome gilt flame like that of a candle." Its entire height is 202 feet, stated in the inscription on its north side to be equal to its distance eastward from the house where the fire broke out, at the house of the King's bakers in Pudding Lane. The Monument is loftier than the pillars of Trajan and Antoninus at Rome; and it is not only the loftiest but also the finest isolated stone column in the world. Within is a staircase of 345 black marble steps, opening to the balcony, whence the view of the Metropolis, especially of the Port of London, is very interesting. In one respect it is finer than that from the height of St. Paul's Cathedral, since it includes a view of the Cathedral's dome.
The work of construction occupied six years, namely, from 1671 to 1677, much hindrance being caused by the difficulty of getting a sufficient quantity of Portland stone of the necessary dimensions. This occasioned a proclamation from the King, dated Whitehall, 4th May, 1669, forbidding any person to transport stone from the isle of Portland without leave from Dr. Christopher Wren, the Surveyor General. The emblematical sculpture on the west side was executed by Caius Gabriel Cibber, the sculptor, and the four dragons at the base were the work of Edward Pierce, jun., a sculptor and architect who was frequently employed by Wren. A model, scale one-eight of an inch to a foot, of the scaffolding used in building the Monument is preserved. It formerly belonged to Sir William Chambers, and was presented by Mr. Heathcote Russell, C.E., to the late Sir Isambard Brunel, who left it to his son, Mr. J. K. Brunel. The ladders were of the rude construction of Wren's time, two uprights with nailed treads or rounds on the face.
Coordinates: 51.510124 -0.085913502
