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Huge wooden model torched on 350th anniversary of Great Fire of London

A giant model of London's 17th-century cityscape has been set ablaze on the River Thames to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London (+ slideshow).

Named London 1666, the intricately detailed model was created by American sculptor and "burn artist" David Best for the London's Burning festival over the weekend.

The 120-metre-long wooden structure was torched as the finale of the festival, which explored the impact of the Great Fire on the capital's architecture.

The fire famously broke out in a bakery on 2 September 1666 and burnt for four days, killing at least six people and destroying thousands of homes, workplaces and churches.

Best has previously created other large-scale burnable installations for the annual Burning Man festival including one called Temple of the Mind.

This model was based on how London would have looked at the time of the fire. Designed to be burnt, it was installed on a pair of decks in the River Thames before being set alight.

The blaze was controlled by Arup fire engineers.

Other installations at London's Burning included a 3.5-mile-long domino run tracing the path of the fire through London's streets, an underwater performance and a fiery projection on the dome of St Paul's Cathedral – whose predecessor was destroyed in 1666.

"The 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London gives us a rare and wonderful opportunity to work on a historic event, the impact of which was felt far beyond the City of London, throughout the UK and beyond," said Artichoke director Helen Marriage.

Other installations at London's Burning included a fiery projection on the dome of St Paul's Cathedral

The London's Burning festival took place across London between 30 August and 4 September 2016, and was organised by the arts charity Artichoke.

It was sponsored by the City of London Corporation, Arts Council England and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Photography is by Matthew Andrews unless otherwise stated.

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