A Hard Frost.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 24 January 1891, Page 3

A Hard Frost.

The long stretch of hard weather which the people in England have been experiencing.will be to a great number, a novelty. It has not been so much the intense cold, as the long continuation of the frosts, that makes this season so remarkable. Hard winters have been recorded at intervals from every early times, and they have generally follow^ very wet summers. In 1484 the^Phames was frozen over almost to its month, and vessels had to unload there, and cart their produce to London. In 1585 the river was frozen over from the 21st December to the 81st of January. In 1788 the Thames was frozeu from early in December till the 7th of February. In the following year persons walked across the river at Westminster. The years 1716, 1781 was also marked by great frosts. In the last mentioned year the ice remained for nine weeks, booths were erected and a regular fair held. In 1762 the Thames could carriages on it. In 1788 the frost lasted long enough to allow of another foil on the frozen river. In 1798 was another frost, but the year 1814 is memorable for the first fair on the Thames, The watermen who were frozen out, designed footpaths, which they held as guides, and charged passengers a toll. Sheep were roasted on the ice, and a charge was made for seeing it cooked, and another charge for a slice. Booths were erected where liquors and confectionery were sodl. A walk extending from Blackfriars to London bridges was laid out and covered with ashes, and was called the Grand Mall. Printing offices were set up and small posters struck off. In time swings, book stalls, dancing booths &c were erectod. All went merrily, until one nigh a slight fall of snow took place and the wind vered to the South, and the ioe began to crack and on the following day the masses piled up at the bridges broke up, and the river was soon cleared. In 1837 another s)i:t--;i winter was experienced, and again in 1861, but the one now being experienced at Home closely approaches that of 1814.