Frost Fairs on the River Thames
For most Londoners, holding fairs and roasting oxen on thick ice on the River Thames is unimaginable. In centuries past, though, it could and was done whenever there was a particularly cold spell.

The Frost Fair on the River Thames in 1814

Background
Up until the 19th century, although not common, Frost Fairs could take place on the River Thames. The river itself was wider and the bridges, particularly London Bridge, stood on much larger pillars and narrower arches, so restricting the flow of water, making it easier for ice to form.

It took a prolonged cold spell to provide the necessary conditions. Ice would first form at the sides and by the bridges. If extreme cold continued, the ice would thicken and spread until eventually the river iced over from bank to bank.

In 1063, three years before the Norman Conquest, there is a record of the the Thames freezing for 14 weeks and then again in 1076. In 1434, the river froze from London Bridge to Gravesend and it lasted from November 24th to February 10th. In 1515 the ice is said to have been thick enough for carriages (this might mean carts rather than the heavy carriages we imagine nowadays) to drive across the river on it.

The Frost Fairs
The first recorded Frost Fair was held in 1564 and Londoners danced and practised archery on the ice.

On December 23rd 1683, the diarist John Evelyn describes "a greate frost". By January 1st 1684, the ice was so thick that booths were set up on the Thames. A few days later, he crossed the river on foot and saw streets of booths selling all kinds of wares and a whole ox was even roasted on the ice. Not only were tradespeople selling goods, they were also carrying out a variety of trades. A printer set up his press and printed souvenir cards with the person's name, the date and time. There was horse racing, bull baiting and many other activities adding to the carnival atmosphere. The ice continued thick enough to hold the fair until the beginning of February.

During the winter of 1739-40 the frost began on Christmas Day 1739 and continued until February 17th 1740 and was known as the Great Frost. Again, when the ice thickened, a Frost Fair with roasted ox was held on the river. Later in the century, in 1788, the Thames was frozen for seven weeks. As well as the usual attractions of previous Frost Fairs, this one included a Wild Beast Show.

In the winter of 1813-14 there was the last great Frost Fair held on the River Thames. The watermen, who usually earned a living by ferrying people across the river, replaced their lost earnings by charging people for entering the fair. To facilitate this, they broke the ice near the banks so people needed the watermen to help them cross.

The frost fairs came to an end when the flow of the river was increased by the demolition of the old London Bridge and the opening of the new London Bridge in 1831.

Also see Tower Bridge

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Copyright © 2004 Carol Fisher. All Rights Reserved