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Samuel Pepys 1633 - 1703
Famous diarist lived in Greenwich 1665 - 1666
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Samuel Pepys Books: |
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Samuel
Pepys begun his diary on 1 January 1660 and continued writing it until May 1669,
when he was too blind to write. He was a frequent visitor to Greenwich in his
official capacity as 'clerk of the Acts' for the Navy. The famous diarist lived
in Greenwich 1665 - 1666 and was a great friend of John
Evelyn, a fellow diarist. The royal dockyards at Deptford and Woolwich,
adjacent to Greenwich are frequently mentioned.
It was a private diary written in code and not intended for publication.
4 March 1664: " ... at Greenwich, did observe the
foundation laying of a very great house for the King, which will cost a great
deal of money" (this was to become Greenwich
Hospital)
The Black Death
24 August 1665: At Greenwich, "dined very well and thence to look at our rooms at the Kings' House, which were not yet ready for us".
Later that year: "walked to Greenwich, in my way seeing a coffin with a dead body therein, dead of the plague, laying in an open close to Combe Farm, which was carried out last night, and the parish have not appointed anybody to bury it...this disease making us more cruel to one another than if we were dogs".
The Great Fire of London
Sunday 2 September 1666: Pepys was woken at 3am to be told of a great fire in the City
During the day Pepys was summoned to see the King (Charles II). The King ordered him to tell the Lord Mayor of London to pull down houses to stop the fire spreading (see picture).
Wednesday 5 September 1666: The fire is close to Pepys house near Barking church. He takes his wife and his gold (worth £2,350) to Woolwich. Pepys diary recalls " what a sad sight it was by moonlight to see the whole City on fire, that you might see it as plain at Woolwich as if you were by it." He had the rest of his effects sent to Deptford by boat.
Other Samuel Pepys links:
- Text of his diaries about the Great Fire of London
