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In the Swiss Alps, glacial encroachment destroyed farmland and villages. Canals and rivers in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands froze, hindering shipping. Much of Greenland was cut off by sea ice for three hundred years. Crops failed, and many Nordic colonies in Greenland starved to death and disappeared.
While famine and death became widespread across Europe, people began to think about "taking advantage" of the cold weather and frozen rivers to play outdoor winter sports, and ice skating became a popular pastime.
In London, even the mighty River Thames freezes over. Historically, between the 17th and early 19th centuries, the Thames froze over more than 20 times. The worst instance in British history was in the winter of 1683-1684, when the Thames completely froze for two months.
For Londoners, the freezing of the river was a cause for celebration. As soon as the ice was thick enough to support the weight, street vendors hastily set up stalls, selling everything from souvenirs and food to haircuts. One man even placed a printing press on the ice and published a 124-page book. Activities and entertainment at the fair included horse training and racing, puppet shows, sledding, bowling, and more. Records of the fair indicate that in 1683-1684, a feast was held centered around a roasted castrated bull. Even the Royal Family, King Charles and the Queen, attended the fair in general and the roast bull event in particular.
The image illustrates the Thames River freezing over in 1683.
The image illustrates the Thames River freezing over in 1684.
The Thames River Fairs are usually short-lived, lasting only a few days. For various reasons, they are often held towards the end of winter, before the ice begins to melt.
During a fair in 1739, an ice floe collapsed, swallowing a tent and its occupants. In January 1789, the ice melted so rapidly that it dragged a ship anchored alongside a riverside house, pulling the building down with it, crushing and killing five people.
In the 1800s, the climate warmed, and winters were no longer so harsh. The River Thames remained frozen, but the conditions were no longer suitable for holding fairs. The last fair took place in 1814, when thousands gathered to watch a fully grown elephant walk across the frozen river.
The demolition of the old London Bridge in 1831 and the construction of a new one also contributed to the melting of ice on the River Thames. Medieval London Bridge and its piers were quite tightly coupled. In winter, ice clung to the piers, obstructing the flow and making the river even more prone to freezing. Once the new Thames Dam was completed, the river flowed more freely, and the days of the Thames freezing became history.
Most souvenirs sold at fairs, such as jewelry or toys, are labeled "bought on the Thames" and sold for double or even triple the original price. This is a gingerbread loaf sold on the Thames.
Ngoc Anh (According to AmusingPlanet)
