Gavin Barratt

for The Tennant Lecture Series

on The Great Fire of London and the re-building of St Paul's Cathedral

Tuesday 28 April 2026

Lecture in the EM Forster Theatre at 8pm

Drinks in the Theatre Foyer from 7.15pm

The Great Fire of London burnt for five days in September 1666, oblitering in its path great swathes of the mediaeval City of London. A major casualty was the old Saint Paul's Cathedral. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid in 1675 and completion was achieved in 1711, under the enterprising and unstoppable genius of Christopher Wren. Wren was one of the five 'virtuosi' whose efforts saw London rebuilt and life in it transformed.

This lecture will explore both the great fire itself and the herculean task of restoring the City, which followed the fire and in particular the rebuilding of St Paul's Cathedral. Gavin Barrett is a first-class lecturer, with a love of music and history. In 2001-2002, he was Master of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, one of the ancient Livery Companies that have at least 525 years of history in the City of London.

This event is fully accessible.