Fairs on a frozen Thames

Behold the Liquid Thames frozen o’re,
That lately Ships of mighty Burthen bore
The Watermen for want of Rowing Boats
Make use of Booths to get their Pence & Groats
Here you may see beef roasted on the spit
And for your money you may taste a bit
There you may print your name, tho cannot write
Cause num’d with cold: tis done with great delight
And lay it by that ages yet to come
May see what things upon the ice were done

Frost Fairs on the Thames – When London Turned into a Winter Wonderland!

Today, it seems almost impossible to imagine the River Thames freezing over completely. But centuries ago, it didn’t just freeze—it turned into a magical, icy playground! The ice became so thick and strong that entire fairs, markets, and even sporting events were held on it. Can you picture walking out onto the frozen river to enjoy music, feasting, and games, with London’s skyline rising behind you? Well, from as early as the 7th century and lasting up until the early 19th century, that’s exactly what happened!

A Chilling Tradition – The Birth of Frost Fairs

The first recorded Frost Fairs were held as early as the 7th century, but they truly became a spectacle between the 17th and 19th centuries when the Thames froze more frequently. Whenever the ice was thick enough, Londoners seized the opportunity to turn their frozen river into a bustling hub of activity.

Between 1649 and 1666, the river froze over more often than usual, creating a period of frequent winter celebrations. It was a time of harsh winters, but rather than hide away indoors, people made the most of the icy conditions. They walked onto the river to shop, skate, eat, drink, and even gamble. The river wasn’t just a novelty—it became a thriving winter marketplace!

How Cold Did It Get?

You might be wondering just how cold it must have been for a mighty river like the Thames to turn solid ice. The answer? Very, very cold!  There were times when the Thames froze over for as long as two months! During the Great Frost of 1683-84, the ice was measured to be over 11 inches thick—strong enough to support not just people, but even horses and carriages. In that year it was so cold that the North Sea itself partially froze, which meant that even the ports froze which, as you can imagine cause  chaos to the countries trade. Can you imagine a time when our harbours became giant ice rinks?

The Frost Fairs That Made History

1608 – The First Official Frost Fair

The first officially recognized Frost Fair was held in 1608, and Londoners went loved it, they all went on the river!  Can you imagine stepping onto the frozen Thames and seeing an entire festival in front of you, wouldn’t it have been fun?

. There were barbers cutting hair on the ice, pubs serving ale, shoemakers selling boots, and even fruit stalls. Some of the stall holders were so determined to stay warm that they even lit fires inside their tents, you would think it was a risky move, but hey, it was cold, very cold!

1683-84 – The Greatest Frost Fair of Them All!

This was the longest and most famous Frost Fair in history.

Over this winter the Thames remained frozen for months, would you believe that this even allowed people to race, horses and carriages across the river. Of course, being British, they had to play football on the ice!  Then came puppet shows, skating, and gambling all of which added to the carnival atmosphere. John Evelyn, a famous diarist, left us this vivid description:

“Coaches plied from Westminster to the Temple, and from several other stairs too and fro, as in the streets; sleds, sliding with skeetes, a bull-baiting, horse and coach races, puppet plays and interludes, cooks, tipling and other lewd places, so that it seemed to be a bacchanalian triumph, or carnival on the water.”

Sounds incredible, doesn’t it? Imagine being there, watching sleds whizz by, listening to music, and warming up with a hot drink while standing on a frozen river!  Which of course was a must.

1814 – The Last Frost Fair

The final Frost Fair took place in 1814, it lasted only four days between Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge. However, those four days were legendary!

Unbelievably, during this fair, they led an elephant across the frozen river!

Yes, that year London had been freezing from December 27th to February 7th, and by the start of February, they decided that the ice was solid enough for a grand celebration.

Unfortunately, this time, the ice melted rather quickly, in fact so suddenly that it caught many people off guard. With the result that many of the unlucky fairgoers fell through and were drowned as the Thames became a river again. It was a sobering reminder that while the Frost Fairs were magical, they were also dangerous.

Why Did the Frost Fairs Stop?

Sadly, after that Frost Fairs became a thing of the past:

1. Due to milder winters – The climate started warming up, meaning the Thames no longer froze solid for long enough to hold fairs.
2. The New London Bridge (1831) – The old London Bridge had small, narrow arches that slowed the river’s flow, helping it freeze. When it was replaced in 1831 with a bridge that had wider arches, the water moved more freely and was less likely to freeze.
3. Riverbank Modifications – Over time, the riverbanks were built up and narrowed, making the Thames flow faster, which again stopped ice from forming.

Could the Thames Freeze Again?

With today’s climate, it’s unlikely, but not impossible. If a severe enough winter came along, the Thames could still partially freeze, though changes to the river’s flow mean it’s unlikely to turn into a solid ice sheet again.

But just imagine if it did… Wouldn’t it be incredible to step onto the ice, sip hot spiced wine, and watch puppet shows just like Londoners did centuries ago? Maybe one day, we’ll get a surprise Frost Fair of our own!

Unfortunately, global warming is going the wrong way, but we can sill dream of magical winters when London’s busiest river transformed into the world’s coolest festival ground!

Would you have dared to walk across the frozen Thames?

Isn’t history fun?

Here are ten questions to discuss:

1. What factors contributed to the River Thames freezing over during the Frost Fairs?
2. Describe some of the activities and attractions one could find at the Frost Fairs.
3. Who was John Evelyn, and what did he contribute to our understanding of the Frost Fairs?
4. How did the freezing of the River Thames affect trade and transportation during the Frost Fairs?
5. Can you explain the significance of the year 1683-84 in the history of the Frost Fairs?
6. What was the duration of the longest-lasting Frost Fair, and what made it particularly famous?
7. Why was the Frost Fair of 1814 considered the last of its kind?
8. What role did climate change play in the disappearance of the Frost Fairs?
9. How did the replacement of the old London Bridge impact the occurrence of Frost Fairs?
10. If the River Thames were to freeze over again today, what modern-day activities do you think would take place on the ice?

For more about this:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Thames-Frost-Fairs/ 

https://www.thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/the-last-thames-frost-fair/ 

https://www.alevelpe.com/resources/preindustrial/frostfair.pdf

© Tony Dalton