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Frost Fairs
In the days of the old London Bridge, the river was much wider and the currents ran more slowly mainly because of the restriction caused by nineteen pillars supporting the bridge. In harsh winters the slow waters froze, occasionally creating an ice layer of up to 1m thick which would often remain for several weeks. A number of Frost Fairs took place on the ice. For the majority, these were winter festivals, made more special because, occurring perhaps once a generation, they were so rare. The frozen Thames was a curiosity and thousands came to witness the extraordinary sights. After the new London Bridge opened in 1831, water was able to flow much more freely underneath it, and the Thames has not frozen in Central London ever since.
* Henry VIII is said to have travelled all the way from central London to Greenwich by sleigh along the river during the winter of 1536.
* It is recorded that in 1564, Queen Elizabeth I went frequently upon the ice.
* The most famous of these Frost Fairs took place during the great freeze of 1683-4. Streets of booths were set up on the ice, and horse drawn carts crossed the river.
* Charles II bought a souvenir certificate with his name printed on it during the fair of 1684.
* In 1789 the ice stretched all the way from London Bridge to Putney.
* The fair in 1813 included a street of shops running from Blackfriars Bridge called ‘City Road’.
* The last frost fair occurred in 1814, during which an elephant was taken across the river.
....and no central heating!!!!!
In the days of the old London Bridge, the river was much wider and the currents ran more slowly mainly because of the restriction caused by nineteen pillars supporting the bridge. In harsh winters the slow waters froze, occasionally creating an ice layer of up to 1m thick which would often remain for several weeks. A number of Frost Fairs took place on the ice. For the majority, these were winter festivals, made more special because, occurring perhaps once a generation, they were so rare. The frozen Thames was a curiosity and thousands came to witness the extraordinary sights. After the new London Bridge opened in 1831, water was able to flow much more freely underneath it, and the Thames has not frozen in Central London ever since.
* Henry VIII is said to have travelled all the way from central London to Greenwich by sleigh along the river during the winter of 1536.
* It is recorded that in 1564, Queen Elizabeth I went frequently upon the ice.
* The most famous of these Frost Fairs took place during the great freeze of 1683-4. Streets of booths were set up on the ice, and horse drawn carts crossed the river.
* Charles II bought a souvenir certificate with his name printed on it during the fair of 1684.
* In 1789 the ice stretched all the way from London Bridge to Putney.
* The fair in 1813 included a street of shops running from Blackfriars Bridge called ‘City Road’.
* The last frost fair occurred in 1814, during which an elephant was taken across the river.
....and no central heating!!!!!
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