Everyone has heard of the Great fire of London in 1666 when vast swathes of the city were engulfed in an inferno. Such fires were common in medieval cities which were largely constructed of timber and houses were densely packed together. Here are five of the worst fires in medieval Dublin.

1192

This is the earliest recorded fire in the city, the annalist in St Mary’s Abbey simply recorded the event as

“The City of Dublin was burnt”

1283

This fire marked the beginning of a disastrous period in Dublin, Christchurch was very badly damaged in the fire. St Mary’s Annalist again recorded

“Fire in Dublin, the city of Dublin was in part burnt, and the belfray of St Trinity church in Dublin, the third day before the nones of January”

1301

The fire in 1301 occurred on the night of June 9th. Dry weather in summer would have seen the fire spread rapidly through the medieval city resulting in

A great part of the cite of Dublin was burnt, together with the church of St Werburgh on st Columbs day at night

1304

The next great fire seems to have gutted the city only three years later, again in the summer

A great part of Dublin was burnt with the Bridge street with a good part of the quay, and the church of friars preacher [Dominicans] and the church of the monks and no small part of the monastery about the Ides of June

1317

This fire was unquestionably the worst and indeed the most unusual fire. It was started intentionally by the citizens themselves. When an invading Scottish army under Robert the Bruce and his brother Edward approached Dublin, the citizens burned the suburbs to prevent the Scots using them in the event of siege. The Annalist at St Mary’s Abbey was non plussed by the events which saw the fire get out of control and destroy much of the city.

the men of Dublin for feare of the Scots burnt St Thomas street and with the said fire the church of St John with the Chappell of St Marie Maudlen was by casualty burnt: yea & and all the suburbs of Dublin were set on fire, together with the monastery of St Marie [St Mary’s Abbey] and the church of St Partick [St Patricks cathedral] was by said villaines spoiled.

Incidentally the Scottish army who were camped in Castleknock saw the city ablaze and decided they would leave the Dubliners to their own devices and moved on to pillage Kildare.

Book Your place on the unique Irish History Podcast Tour of Medieval Wicklow

On December 1st, I am organising a unique tour of Medieval Wicklow, an area known to the Normans as the “Land of War”. In this once off tour you will discover the unknown history of Glendalough and the surrounding areas of Glenmalure and Castlekevin in a time when Normans and Gaelic Irish Families fought for control over the region in a real life Game of Thrones.