London’s Burning: Crystal Palace Fire 80th anniversary

Featuring Iain Sinclair and Stephen Watts

  • Image of Crystal Palace Burning

    Crystal Palace Burning, 1936, courtesy of London Fire Brigade

Past Event


This event was on Thu 10 Nov 2016, 7pm

Join a special evening showcasing seven decades of film dedicated to urban fires – from Crystal Palace (1936) and the Luftwaffe’s blitz of London in the 1940s, to the 1958 roof fires at the Houses of Parliament and the industrial and Dockland fires of the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Highlights from the event include screenings of archive 16mm footage of the London Fire Brigade edited by filmmakers and curator Louis Benassi, Mantas Salcheus and David Leister and readings from acclaimed London writers Iain Sinclair and Stephen Watts.

London’s Burning coincides with the 350th anniversary of the great fire of London in 1666, the 150th anniversary of the London Fire Brigade’s formation in 1866 and 410 years since the death of Guy Fawkes.

The first 50 guests will receive a limited edition pamphlet made on the occasion of the event, including a numbered etching reproduced as a print by artist Lilly Jacobs.

Curated by Louis Benassi.