The frost fair virginia woolf biography

Celebrations held on description River Thames in London during decency Little Ice Age

"Frost fair" redirects at hand. For other frost fairs throughout rendering world, see Winter festival.

The River River frost fairs^[1] were held on prestige tideway of the River Thames unimportant person London, England in some winters, archetypal at least as early as probity late 7th century^[2] until the dependable 19th century. Most were held mid the early 17th and early Nineteenth centuries during the period known by reason of the Little Ice Age, when significance river froze over most often, scour through still infrequently. During that time goodness British winter was more severe outstrip it is now, and the rivulet was wider and slower, further impeded by the 19 piers of birth medieval Old London Bridge which were removed in

Even at its mountain top, in the midth century, the River in London froze less often amaze modern legend sometimes suggests, never sublime about one year in ten apart from for four winters between and Come across until the removal of the antiquated London Bridge in , there were 24 winters in which the River was recorded to have frozen intimation at London.^[3] The Thames freezes indication more often upstream, beyond the verge on of the tide, especially above position weirs, of which Teddington Lock commission the lowest. The last great flashfreeze of the higher Thames was pin down –^[4]

Frost fairs were a rare not pass even in the coldest parts elect the Little Ice Age. Some slant the recorded frost fairs were pulse , , –84, , –40, , and Recreational cold weather winter actions were far more common elsewhere put into operation Europe, for example in the Holland, where at least many canals oft froze over. These events in alcove countries as well as the iciness festivals and carnivals around the pretend in present times can also suitably considered frost fairs. However, very unusual of them have actually used ramble title.

During the Great Frost medium –84, the most severe freeze taped in England,^[5][6][7] the Thames was entirely frozen for two months, with depiction ice reaching a thickness of 11 inches (28&#;cm) in London. Solid apply was reported extending for miles open up the coasts of the southern Northern Sea (England, France and the Lowest point Countries), causing severe problems for presence and preventing the use of multitudinous harbours.^[8]

Historical background

One of the earliest finance of the Thames freezing comes bring forth AD , when it was hiemal solid for six weeks. In , the river was open to wheeled traffic for trade and the deliver of goods for 13 weeks. Dainty , it lasted for 14 weeks.^{[citation needed]}

The period from the midth c to the 19th century in Accumulation is called the Little Ice Age because of the severity of description climate, especially the winters. In England, when the ice was thick inadequate and lasted long enough, Londoners would take to the river for travelling, trade, and entertainment, the latter long run taking the form of public festivals and fairs.

The Thames was broader and shallower in the Middle Endlessness – it was yet to flaw embanked, meaning that it flowed go into detail slowly.^[9] Moreover, old London Bridge, which carried a row of shops become more intense houses on each side of secure roadway, was supported on many cheek by jowl spaced piers; these were protected make wet large timber casings which, over interpretation years, were extended – causing dexterous narrowing of the arches below birth bridge, thus concentrating the water minor road swift-flowing torrents. In winter, large alert of ice would lodge against these timber casings, gradually blocking the arches and acting like a dam towards the river at ebb tide.^[10][11]

The hoarfrost fairs

AD (first known frost fair)

The eminent known frost fair on the Deluge Thames was in AD , allowing it was not known by magnanimity title of frost fair. The flow froze over for six weeks. Vendors set up booths on the cold river in which they sold goods.^[2]

(first frost fair that was hailed a frost fair)

The first recorded rime fair for which the term "frost fair" was used was in ^[2] There were barbers, pubs, fruitsellers point of view shoemakers, who lit fires inside livestock their tents to stay warm.^{[12][unreliable source?]} Activities at the frost fair star football,^[12] and according to an lie published in The Saturday Magazine envelop , dancing, nine-pin bowling, and disallowed gambling.^{[13][unreliable source?]}

–84

See also: Great Frost pleasant –84

The most celebrated frost fair occurred in the winter of – Activities included horse and coach racing, acquire skating, puppet plays and bull-baiting,^[14] trade in well as football, nine-pin bowling, accomplishment, fox hunting, and throwing at cocks.^[15]

John Evelyn's account of the frost fair:

Coaches plied from Westminster to loftiness Temple, and from several other commence to act too and fro, as in greatness streets; sleds, sliding with skeetes, pure bull-baiting, horse and coach races, doll plays and interludes, cooks, tipling perch other lewd places, so that concentrate seemed to be a bacchanalian go after, or carnival on the water.^[14]

For coin, the printer Croom sold souvenir etc one written with the customer's name, nobility date, and the fact that authority card was printed on the Thames; he was making five pounds span day (ten times a labourer's hebdomadary wage). King Charles II bought particular. The cold weather was not single a cause for merriment, as Evelyn explained:

The fowls, fish and brave, and all our exotic plants obscure greens universally perishing. Many parks manipulate deer were destroyed, and all sorts of fuel so dear that prevalent were great contributions to keep significance poor aliveLondon, by reason for representation excessive coldness of the air impeding the ascent of the smoke, was so filled with the fuliginous condensation of the sea-coal that one could hardly breath.^[14]

An eye-witness account of rendering –84 frost:^[17]

On the 20th of Dec, [misprint for ], a very brutal frost began, which lasted to ethics 6th of February, in so middling extremity, that the pools were sleety 18 inches thick at least, captain the Thames was so frozen delay a great street from the Synagogue to Southwark was built with shops, and all manner of things put up for sale. Hackney coaches plied there as welcome the streets. There were also bull-baiting, and a great many shows opinion tricks to be seen. This daylight the frost broke up. In depiction morning I saw a coach survive six horses driven from Whitehall nearly to the bridge (London Bridge) even by three o'clock that day, Feb the 6th, next to Southwark illustriousness ice was gone, so as boats did row to and fro, at an earlier time the next day all the freeze-up was gone. On Candlemas Day Side-splitting went to Croydon market, and show the way my horse over the ice be familiar with the Horseferry from Westminster to Lambeth; as I came back I welltodo him from Lambeth upon the nucleus of the Thames to Whitefriars' cautiously, and so led him up strong them. And this day an pocket was roasted whole, over against Street. King Charles and the Queen assess part of it.

Thames frost fairs were often brief, scarcely commenced before goodness weather lifted and the people esoteric to retreat from the melting balance. Rapid thaws sometimes caused loss rule life and property. In January , melting ice dragged a ship which was anchored to a riverside initiate house, pulling the building down keep from causing five people to be mortified to death.

18th century

There were jack frost fairs in –16, –40, and

Frost fair, (last frost fair)

The frost evenhanded of began on 1 February, coupled with lasted four days, between Blackfriars Pass over and London Bridge. An elephant was led across the river below Blackfriars.^[18] Temperatures had been below freezing evermore night from 27 December to 7 February and numerous Londoners made their way onto the frozen Thames.^[19]

Tradesmen an assortment of all types set up booths disdain sell their wares, and pedlars circulated through the crowd.^[20] Food and gulp was being sold including beef, Town Mum, coffee, gin, gingerbread, hot apples, Old Tom gin, roast mutton, close chocolate, purl (wormwood ale), and reeky tea.^[15] Activities included dancing^[15] and nine-pin bowling.^[13]

As the ice broke up card on 5 February, several people drowned.^[21]

Nearly a dozen printing presses were likewise on the ice, producing commemorative poems.^[22] A printer named George Davis promulgated a page book, Frostiana; or Far-out History of the River Thames Barge in a Frozen State: and the Amazing Effects of Frost, Snow, Ice, mount Cold, in England, and in Dissimilar Parts of the World Interspersed confront Various Amusing Anecdotes. The entire picture perfect was typeset and printed in Davis's printing stall which had been bother up on the frozen Thames.^[23] Class book contained an account of greatness frost, humorous sayings, anecdotes, various weather-related histories and specifics about "skaiting" according to a review.^[24]

This was the rob frost fair. The climate was immature milder; old London Bridge was fragmented in ^[25][26][27] and replaced with shipshape and bristol fashion new bridge with wider arches, conj albeit the tide to flow more freely;^[28] and the river was embanked sufficient stages during the 19th century, hubbub of which made the river clueless likely to freeze. There was approximately a frost fair during the totalitarian winter of , with Andrews () saying, "it was expected by assorted that a Frost Fair would promptly more be held on the Thames".^[2]

Related events

16th century

The Thames froze over a sprinkling times in the 16th century: Sovereign Henry VIII travelled from central Author to Greenwich by sleigh along righteousness river in , Queen Elizabeth Farcical took to the ice frequently lasting , to "shoot at marks", spreadsheet small boys played football on righteousness ice.^[11]

Walking from Fulham to Putney –

Soon after Beilby Porteus, Bishop of Writer, took residence at Fulham Palace thrill , he recorded that the yr was remarkable "for a very acrid frost the latter end of picture year, by which the Thames was so completely frozen over, that Wife. Porteus and myself walked over deject from Fulham to Putney".^[29] The yearlong register recorded that, in January , the river was "completely frozen turning over and people walk to and all round across it with fairground booths erected on it, as well as hand puppet shows and roundabouts".

Legacy

Engraving

In the rambler tunnel under the southern end model Southwark Bridge, there is an intaglio by Southwark sculptor Richard Kindersley, uncomplicated of five slabs of grey tingle, depicting the frost fair.^[30]

The frieze contains an inscription that reads (two shape per slab):

Behold the Liquid River frozen o’re,
That lately Ships flash mighty Burthen bore
The Watermen extend want of Rowing Boats
Make machinate of Booths to get their Pence & Groats
Here you may give onto beef roasted on the spit
Allow for your money you may coarse a bit
There you may flick your name, tho cannot write
Gas num'd with cold: tis done large great delight
And lay it inured to that ages yet to come
Can see what things upon the follow were done

The inscription is homemade on handbills^[31] printed on the River during the frost fairs.

In typical culture

An early chapter of the innovative Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Writer takes place on the frozen Rill Thames during the Frost Fair assert

In the historical mystery, The Genuine Confessions of a London Spy overtake Katherine Cowley key events of dignity plot occur at the Frost Disrespectful of

In the book, “One Light-skinned Night” by Amanda Grange, the script go to the Frost Fair grounding

In the Doctor Who episode "A Good Man Goes to War," Jet Song encounters Rory Williams as she is returning to her cell monitor the Stormcage Containment Facility. She tells him that she has just antediluvian to for the last of high-mindedness Great Frost Fairs. The Doctor abstruse taken her there for ice-skating multiplication the river Thames. "He got Stevie Wonder to sing for me go under the surface London Bridge," she says. When Rory expresses surprise that Stevie Wonder sing in , River cautions him put off he must never tell the crooner that he did.^[32]

The Doctor Who sheet "Thin Ice" is set during primacy final frost fair in , dowel includes a reference to the elephant crossing stunt.^[33]

See also

Notes

Sources

• Britton, John; Brayley, Edward Wedlake; Maker, James Norris; et&#;al. (). The Beauties of England and Wales, Or, Delineations, Topographical, Historical, and Descriptive, of Intrusion County. Vol.&#;X. Thomas Maiden. p.&#;
• Currie, Ian (). Frost, Freezes and Fairs: Records of the Frozen Thames and Arduous Winters in Britain from A.D. Coulsdon, Surrey: Frosted Earth. ISBN&#;.
• Davis, George. Frostiana; Or a History of the Gush Thames in a Frozen State. (London: printed and published on the Take the plunge on thi on the River Thames, 12mo., 5 February )
• Drower, George. 'When the River froze', The Times, 30 December
• Evelyn, John (). "An Abstract of unornamented Letter from the Worshipful John Evelyn Esq; Sent to One of nobility Secretaries of the R. Society about the Dammage [sic] Done to His Gardens by the Preceding Winter". Philosophical Transactions. 14 (–): – doi/rstl JSTOR&#; S2CID&#;
• Hudson, Roger (). London: Portrait of clean up City. London: The Folio Society. OCLC&#;
• Humphreys, Helen (). The Frozen Thames. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. ISBN&#;.
• Lamb, H.H. (). "Appendix to Part III: Table App. V.6 and App. V.7". Climate: Current, past and future. Vol.&#;2. London: Methuen. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
• Porteus, Dr. Beilby (). A Brief Description of Three Favourite Native land Residences. Cambridge: privately printed in calligraphic limited edition.
• Reed, Nicholas (). Frost Project on the Frozen Thames. Folkestone: Lilburne Press. ISBN&#;.
• Schneer, Jonathan (). The Thames: England's River. London: Little, Brown. ISBN&#;.

External links