Monday, October 23, 2023

The 1666 Tornado on This Day in History

 

This day in history: On this day in 1666, the most intense tornado on record in English history, an F4 storm on the Fujita scale or T8 on the TORRO scale, struck the county of Lincolnshire, with winds of more than 213 miles per hour (343 km/h).

1666 was such a bad year. The Great Fire of London happened in 1666. This fire destroyed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, the Royal Exchange, Guildhall, and St. Paul's Cathedral. It also killed off some of the black rats and fleas that carried the plague bacillus. The fire began on September 2, 1666 and lasted just under five days. One-third of London was destroyed and about 100,000 people were made homeless.

A Great Plague also happened in 1666. Also known as the Black Death, this disease had been known in England for centuries. Those who could, including most doctors, lawyers, and merchants, fled the city of London. Charles II and his courtiers left in July for Hampton Court and then Oxford.


No comments:

Post a Comment