Great Frost of 1683–84

See also: Little Ice Age

The Great Frost of 1683–1684 was a frost across England, reported as the worst in its history.^[1] During the Frost, the surface of the River Thames was reported as frozen to the depth of one foot (30 cm).^[2] The Great Frost enabled one of the River Thames frost fairs.^[1] Entertainment on the frozen Thames as result of the Great Frost began the career of Chipperfield's Circus.^[2] A Great Frost Fair was also held in Leeds, when the River Aire froze solid for a month allowing a fair with an ox-roast and sports to take place, as described by Ralph Thoresby.^[3]

The frost fair of 1683-1684

Frost Fair of 1683 (1841 image)

Contemporary painting by Abraham Hondius of the Frost Fair of 1683–84

References

1. Williams, Rob (17 November 2013). "The 10 worst British winters ever - 1. The winter of 1684". The Independent. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
2. Ian Sansom (15 May 2010). "Great dynasties of the world: The Chipperfields". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
3. Mitchell, W. R. (2000). A History of Leeds. Chichester: Phillimore. p. 52. ISBN 1 86077 130 0.

External links

• Contemporary reports of the 1683-1684 frost