Abstract
Fire disasters were a perennial threat to urban life in early modern England, but are yet to receive sustained attention from historians. By analysing popular literature, charitable collections and relief distribution this article reveals how urban fires were interpreted and what effect they had on individuals and specific communities in England between 1580 and 1640. Some aspects of the experience of fire disasters in early modern England are illuminated through detailed contextual readings of contemporary news reports, quantitative analyses of the collection and distribution of charitable funds, and attention to the fortunes of individual survivors of fires.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 268-293 |
Journal | Historical Research |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 244 |
Early online date | 18 Apr 2016 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2016 |