Astrognome Weather Frost Fair on river Thames

Frost Fair on the river Thames

On January 19^th 1684 the diarist John Evelyn visited the Frost Fair  being held on the river Thames. This was at the time referred to as the ‘Little ice Age’ because it was so cold. The Thames was frozen to a depth of several feet.

There was a series of frost fairs held on the Thames. The first was in 1608, the last in 1814. However the frost fair of 1684 was the most splendid of all the fairs that were held on the Thames.

In late January 1684 even King Charles II spent a night on the Thames. On the frozen river, Oxen were roasted all sorts of goods were sold plus there were even horse races on the frozen river.

This particular frost fair continued until early February.