DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70266#0293
FROST FAIR.
259
Westminster-bridge, which, from the turning of the tide and
the thaw, suddenly separated from the side and carried him
up the middle of the river, towards Milbank, where his cries
attracted the notice of a waterman, who put off to his assist-
ance, and fortunately^ by the application of his oafs, relieved
him from his perilous situation.
Having given a list of many severe frosts, in the second
volume of our Work, page 2/2, we shall endeavour to give
•the whole that has ever frozen the Thames over, from the
earliest period, that we have not noticed there.
The first that appears on record, is in the year 250, the
Thames was frozen over nine weeks.
In 695, the Thames was frozen for six weeks, and booths
built upon it.
In 923, the Thames was frozen over for thirteen weeks.
In 998, the Thames was frozen for five weeks.
In 1063, the Thames was frozen for fourteen weeks.
In 1434, the Thames was frozen from November 24th
to February 10th'; it was frozen below bridge to Gravesend.
Hollinshed informs us, “ that in 1655, the one and twen-
tyth of December began a frost, which continued so
extremlie, that on new year’s euen, people went over, and
alongst the Thames on the ice, from London-bridge to
Westminster. Some plaied at the football, as boldlie there,
as if it had been on the drie land; diuerse of the court shot
dailyat pricks, set upon the Thames, and thepeople, both men
and women, went on the Thames, in greater numbers, than
in anie street of the citie of London. On the 31. daie of
Januarie, at night, it began to thaw, and on the fift daie
was no ice to be seen, between London-bridge and Lam-
beth ; which sudden thaw caused great floods and high wa-
ters, that bare down bridges and houses, and drowned manie
people in England, especallie in Yorkshire. Owes bridge,
was borne awaie with others.”
In 1/08-9, there was a severe frost, and the Thames was
L 1 2
259
Westminster-bridge, which, from the turning of the tide and
the thaw, suddenly separated from the side and carried him
up the middle of the river, towards Milbank, where his cries
attracted the notice of a waterman, who put off to his assist-
ance, and fortunately^ by the application of his oafs, relieved
him from his perilous situation.
Having given a list of many severe frosts, in the second
volume of our Work, page 2/2, we shall endeavour to give
•the whole that has ever frozen the Thames over, from the
earliest period, that we have not noticed there.
The first that appears on record, is in the year 250, the
Thames was frozen over nine weeks.
In 695, the Thames was frozen for six weeks, and booths
built upon it.
In 923, the Thames was frozen over for thirteen weeks.
In 998, the Thames was frozen for five weeks.
In 1063, the Thames was frozen for fourteen weeks.
In 1434, the Thames was frozen from November 24th
to February 10th'; it was frozen below bridge to Gravesend.
Hollinshed informs us, “ that in 1655, the one and twen-
tyth of December began a frost, which continued so
extremlie, that on new year’s euen, people went over, and
alongst the Thames on the ice, from London-bridge to
Westminster. Some plaied at the football, as boldlie there,
as if it had been on the drie land; diuerse of the court shot
dailyat pricks, set upon the Thames, and thepeople, both men
and women, went on the Thames, in greater numbers, than
in anie street of the citie of London. On the 31. daie of
Januarie, at night, it began to thaw, and on the fift daie
was no ice to be seen, between London-bridge and Lam-
beth ; which sudden thaw caused great floods and high wa-
ters, that bare down bridges and houses, and drowned manie
people in England, especallie in Yorkshire. Owes bridge,
was borne awaie with others.”
In 1/08-9, there was a severe frost, and the Thames was
L 1 2