Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker: Surviving the Great Fire of London

September 2016 marked the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire, which changed the City of London forever. In this remarkable book, museum curator and antiquarian Hazel Forsyth delves into never-before-studied primary sources to shed light on the dramatic aftermath of the disaster, and reveal the very personal stories of the people who pieced their lives together in its wake.

Beginning with details of the fire itself, the escapes and evacuations, and the troubled times in the city afterwards, Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker continues with an astonishing “A-Z of Trades,” comprising 31 chapters documenting the tradesmen of the time, from apothecaries and chandlers to shoemakers and watchmakers, and how their trades worked before and after the Fire changed everything. Each chapter is beautifully illustrated with items relevant to the trade - including paintings, exquisite fabrics, maps and diagrams, and fascinating objects, including candle snuffers, rattles, books, and pipes, among dozens of others.

The result is a visual feast that tells a story of loss - and resilience - and shows how the city we know today rose from the ashes. Butcher, Baker, Candlestick Maker is an evocative reminder of life before and after the Great Fire, and a book that brings to life one of the key events and eras in British history.

Hazel Forsyth is the Senior Curator of the Medieval and Post-Medieval Collections at the Museum of London. She is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts; a Freeman of the City of London; a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers. She has worked on numerous exhibitions in this country and abroad and has published widely on a range of subjects. Her most recent book is: London's Lost Jewels: The Cheapside Hoard (2013).