The Monument

The Monument was designed by Sir Christopher Wren to commemorate the victims of the Great Fire of London in 1666.

The Monument was erected between 1671 and 1677, it is made out of Portland Stone and stands 202 feet high, the same height at which the Great Fire broke out. The Monument is located on the spot the Great Fire is believed to have started at the junction of Monument Street and Fish Street Hill, the road then known as Pudding Lane.

The Great Fire caused London to come to a standstill as it raged from September 2nd until September 5th leaving little in its wake as it consumed timber houses and businesses. As the city began to rebuild itself it was decided that there should be a permanent memorial. The finished design was a colossal Doric column in the antique tradition surmounted by a drum and a copper urn from which flames emerged, symbolising the Great Fire.

The Latin inscription on the north panel of the pedestal translates as "In the year of Christ 1666, on 2 September, at a distance eastward from this place of 202 ft, which is the height of this column, a fire broke out in the dead of night which, the wind blowing, devoured even distant buildings, and rushed devastating through every quarter with astonishing swiftness and noise ... On the third day ... at the bidding, we may well believe, of heaven, the fire stayed its course and everywhere died out."

Entrance to the Monument is unfortunately not free and visitors will have to pay £2 to climb the spiral staircase, however, The Monument can be appreciated from the ground. Find out more about Monument.

The Monument will be closed for major refurbishment from 30 July 2007 and is due to re-open December 2008.

How to get there

The closest tube station is at Monument. If travelling by bus the 15, 17, 21, 35, 40, 43, 47, 48, 133, 141, 149, 344 and 521 all serve the area.