Monday, January 7, 2013

    The Thames is Freezing: 1811

    The Thames is Freezing: 1811

    Two Hundred and Two years ago

    January 8, 1811

    The Chronicle in 1811 Annual Register


    "The Thames is now nearly frozen, there being only a narrow channel in the centre of the river free from ice. Two men walked on the ice yesterday from Battersea-bridge to Hungerford stairs."

    From Victoria:  However, the Thames did not freeze completely in 1811...it was an infrequent happening.  Below, a painting from the Museum of London, showing the frozen river in 1677 by artist Abraham Hondius (1631-1691)



    The Frozen Thames, 1677


    Below, a painting of the last great Frost Fair of 1814, held on the frozen Thames on February 1-4, 1814.  Since then, various bridges and other alterations in the river's natural flow, combined with unsuitable temperatures, mean that the river never completely freezes.



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