Rebuilding of London Act 1666

Recital that the City of London had been destroyed by Fire.

Reasons for passing this Act; All future Buildings to be after the Method herein mentioned.; Building Houses otherwise; Nuisance, and Builder to enter into a Recognizance to abate the same; on Default, Imprisonment; or House may be demolished by Order of Court of Aldermen.

Forasmuch as the Citty of London being the Imperiall Seate of His Majestyes Kingdomes and renowned for Trade and Commerce throughout the world by reason of a most dreadfull Fire lately happening therein was for the most part thereof burnt downe and destroyed within the compasse of a few dayes and now lyes buryed in its owne Ruines For the speedy Restauration whereof and for the better Regulation Uniformity and Gracefulnes of such new Buildings as shall be erected for Habitations in order thereunto, And to the end that great and outragious Fires (through the blessing of Almighty God soe farr forth as humane Providence (with submission to the Divine pleasure) can foresee may be reasonably prevented or obviated for the time to come, both by the matter and forme of such building, And further to the intent that all Incouragement and Expedition may be given unto, and all Impediments and Obstructions that may retard or protract the undertakeing or carrying on a worke soe necessary and of soe great Honour and Importance to His Majestie and this Kingdome and to the rest of His Majestyes Kingdomes and Dominions may be removed. Bee it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by the Authoritie of the same That the Rules and Directions hereafter in this Act prescribed be duely observed by all persons therein concerned And first That noe Building or House for Habitation whatsoever be hereafter erected within the limitts of the said Citty and Liberties thereof but such as shall be pursuant to such Rules and Orders of Building and with such materialls as are herein after perticularly appointed and according to such Scantlings as are sett downe and prescribed in a Table in this present Act hereafter specified, And if any person or persons shall presume to build contrary thereunto and bee convicted of the same by the oathes of two or more credible witnesses to be taken before the Lord Maior for the time being or any two or more of the Justices of the Peace for the said Citty who are hereby impowered to administer the same oathes That then and in such case the said House soe irregularly built as aforesaid shall be deemed as a common Nusance and the Builder and Levier thereof shall enter into a Recognizance in such summe as the said Maior and Justices respectively in their Discretions shall appoint for abatement and demolishing the same in convenient time or otherwise to amend the same according to such Rules and Orders as aforesaid, and in defaulte of entring into such Recognizance the Offender shall be committed to the common Goale of the said Citty there to remaine without Baile or Mainprize till he shall have abated or demolished or otherwise amended the same, or else such irregular House shall or may be demolished or abated by Order of the Court of Aldermen.