The Monument of London in remembrance of dreadful fire in 1666.

by Bowles, John

Large print of The Monument of London in Remembrance of the Dreadfull Fire in 1666 reproduced in 1966 from an engraving drawn, engraved and published by John Bowles at the Black Horse in Cornhill in 1752.

Two town coaches (one with a liveried footman at the back) pass on wide cobbled Fish Street Hill, the main south road from London, past the Monument, taverns and shops with signs swinging outside, past the spire of the Church of St Magnus the Martyr (designed by Christopher Wren), and on to the old London Bridge just visible under the archway in the distance. On the right a lady rides sidesaddle with a gentleman beside her, as a great dray horse drags six huge barrels of beer into the road. On the left a bare-footed carter wheels a heavy load of fruit past a small flock of sheep and three cows being driven into London for sale. Behind the herdsman a lady drives a small gig, followed by a man, probably her groom in attendance, on a nag.

The Monument is a fine Doric column, standing near the north end of London Bridge. Built between 1671 and 1677, it is 202 feet high and was designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke to commemorate the Great Fire of London which started in a bake-house 202 feet from its base, burned for four days, and destroyed most of London.

Vintage coaching print with slight age-discolouration/foxing. Image measures 275 x 478mm (10 7/8 x 18 1/2 inches). Page size 38 x 51cm (13 1/2 x 20 inches).