London, winter 1683 to 1684: during one of the coldest winters on record, the river freezes so hard that a whole town of booths appears on the ice, and the King prints a souvenir with his name on it
River Closed, Fair Opens
LONDON, January 1684 – The River Thames has frozen so solidly during what is already being called the Great Frost that Londoners are walking, riding and even driving coaches across it. A street of booths, known as Blanket Fair or Freezeland Street, has sprung up on the ice between the Temple and Southwark, selling food, drink and souvenirs. Officials describe the river as temporarily closed to boats and open to everything else.
Why the River Froze
The winter of 1683 to 1684 was one of the coldest ever recorded in England, during the period historians and climate scientists call the Little Ice Age, when winters in Europe were often harsher than today. But the Thames also froze more easily then for another reason: old London Bridge, with its many narrow arches and large protective piers, slowed the flow of the river, so that the water upstream was calmer and more likely to freeze. The river was also wider and shallower before the Victorian embankments were built. When old London Bridge was replaced in the 1830s and the embankments narrowed the river, frost fairs became a thing of the past.
What Was on the Ice
The diarist John Evelyn described the scene in detail. He recorded streets of booths, coaches plying from Westminster to the Temple as if on land, bull-baiting, horse and coach races, puppet plays, cooks, tippling houses and, as he put it, other lewd places, so that it seemed a bacchanalian triumph, or carnival on the water. People went sliding, skating and playing games. There were reports of an ox being roasted whole on the ice.
The Printing Press
One of the most popular attractions was a printing press set up on the ice, where visitors could pay to have their names printed on a card stating that it had been printed on the River Thames. Even the royal family took part. King Charles II visited the fair with members of his family, and a souvenir card printed with the names of the King, his queen, his brother James and others, dated on the ice, survives. Historians note it is one of the earliest examples of a personalised royal souvenir.
The Hardship
Evelyn also recorded the darker side of the Great Frost. Birds and animals died, trees split with the cold, ships were trapped and the poor suffered terribly, with fuel and food scarce and many people unable to work. The fair was fun for those who could afford it; for others, the winter was a disaster. The last frost fair on the Thames was held in 1814, when, by tradition, an elephant was led across the ice below Blackfriars Bridge.
Meanwhile, in 2026
Relations in royal families sometimes freeze over. The London Prat reports Prince William reportedly calling Earl Spencer and Harry traitors after an anonymous source claimed the heir believes his brother read their uncle memoir first. Reports say reconciliation is off, and the uncle says he told everyone. Climate historians note that even the Great Frost eventually thawed, and that when it did, the river went back to carrying everyone in the same direction.
The London Prat has been printing names on frozen rivers since 1961 at https://prat.uk/, with its royal row video on YouTube. Bohiney at https://bohiney.com/ covers American winters.
Study Questions for Students
Why did the Thames freeze more easily in the seventeenth century? What does Evelyn diary reveal about both the fun and the suffering of the Great Frost? Why did frost fairs stop? Discuss, wrapped up warmly.
SOURCE: https://prat.uk/prince-william-called-earl-spencer-and-harry-traitors/