On the east side of Fish street Hill at No.40 and in the centre of Monument Street (P.O. Directory). In Bridge Ward Within.
Erected 1671-7 from the design by Sir Christopher Wren, to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666.
In O. and M. 1677, it is designated " The Pillar where ye Fire began 1666," and is 130 feet from the site of the house in Pudding Lane, in which the Fire originated.
It is carefully described by Strype (Ed. 1720, I. ii. 180-1).
In 1673 there was a payment made of £5 5s. for tithe to the rector of St. Margaret Fish Street Hill in respect of the ground whereon the pillar for the fire was erected (L. and P. Chas. II. 1673-5, p.35).