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Description: | 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. This reduced plan was published a number of times. This latest edition has a textual explanation beneath the map. When Wren made made his plan for he was an Oxford astronomer with comparatively little architectural experience, but among the first to present a proposal after the catastrophe. On this plan, the narrow streets that had helped spread the fires have been replaced by monumental avenues radiating from piazzas. The influence of the classical buildings and formal street plans that Wren had studied in Paris are a clear influence. He also proposed constructing a Thameside quay from Bridewell to the Tower, replacing the ramshackle wooden wharfside buildings with warehouses. A vignette of Thamesis (a putative river god) with London burning in the background has been added to the border. Wren's plan was never used. Perhaps due to his eagerness to produce a design quickly, he was inaccurate in making his ground plan and did not consider contours adequately. Neither King nor Parliment ever took it seriously. | License: | http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/permission.html | Publisher: | Proprietors at Palladios Head in Long Acre | Rights holder: | British Library | Source: | Collect Britain | Creator: | Wren, Christopher | Identifier: | http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personal... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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