60-643: The River Thames frost fairs were held on the tideway of the River Thames in London , England in some winters, starting at least as early as the late 7th century until the early 19th century. Most were held between the early 17th and early 19th centuries during the period known as the Little Ice Age , when the river froze over most often, though still infrequently. During that time the British winter
120-506: A bull-baiting , horse and coach races, puppet plays and interludes, cooks, tipling and other lewd places, so that it seemed to be a bacchanalian triumph, or carnival on the water. For sixpence, the printer Croom sold souvenir cards written with the customer's name, the date, and the fact that the card was printed on the Thames; he was making five pounds a day (ten times a labourer's weekly wage). King Charles II bought one. The cold weather
180-455: A bear was baited , and likewise, a wild, fierce bull, before they were brought by vaqueros to an arena in a small amphitheatre in Monterey, California , to fight each other. He called the fight "a favorite, though barbarous sport." In this case, he said that the bear used its sharp claws against the nose of the bull, before catching its tongue, after being repeatedly gored by the bull. Then
240-404: A good bull-dog; likewise a Silver Collar of twenty-four shillings value, to the owner of the dog that shall pin the bull oftenest and fairest, and seven shillings and sixpence to the owner of the second best dog. But if none shall pin him, seven and sixpence will be given to the owner of the best, and five shillings to the owner of the second dog. N.B. No dog will be allowed to run unless produced at
300-437: A radius of about 30 feet. The object of the sport was for the dogs to immobilize the bull. Before the event started, the bull's nose was blown full of pepper to enrage it before the baiting. The bull was often placed in a hole in the ground. A variant of bull-baiting was "pinning the bull", where specially-trained dogs would set upon the bull one at a time, a successful attack resulting in the dog fastening his teeth strongly in
360-489: A slow but continuous rise in high water level, caused by the extremely slow 'tilting' of Britain (up in the north and down in the south) due to post-glacial rebound and the gradual rise in sea levels due to climate change. The city and state have erected defensive barriers, including the Thames Barrier , which was constructed across the Thames at Woolwich to deal with this threat. The Tideway, often referred to as
420-601: Is a speed limit of 8 knots (15 km/h) west of Wandsworth Bridge and in tributary creeks, and except for authorised vehicles, 12 knots (22 km/h) between Wandsworth Bridge and Margaretness. The tidal river is used for leisure navigation. In London sections there are many sightseeing tours in tourist boats past riverside attractions such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London , as well as regular riverboat services provided by London River Services . This section
480-456: Is not suitable for sporting activity because of the strong stream through the bridges. Rowing has a significant presence upstream of Putney Bridge, while sailing takes place in the same area and also along the coasts of the Estuary. The annual Great River Race for traditional rowed craft takes place over the stretch from Greenwich to Ham . Thames meander challenges along the length of
540-758: Is still called the Bullring. In Kilkenny it took place at the site called The Ring, first in 1609, and commonly on the feast-day of John the Baptist (December 27). The last recorded bull-bait was in 1837, after they had become illegal under an 1835 Act. Bull-baiting also took place in Waterford , Naas , Drogheda , Tuam , Carrickfergus , Belfast and Athlone . In the 19th century, and during Spanish Colonial Rule , bulls used to be pitted against bears in California and Mexico. Kingsley (1920) said that
600-453: Is visited occasionally by cruise ships or warships , which moor alongside HMS Belfast , and a few smaller aggregate or refuse vessels, operating from wharves in the west of London. Most trade is handled by the Port of Tilbury , roll-on/roll-off ferry terminals at Dagenham and Dartford , and petroleum products handling facilities at Purfleet , Coryton and Canvey Island . There
660-638: The Great Frost of 1683–84 , the most severe freeze recorded in England, the Thames was completely frozen for two months, with the ice reaching a thickness of 11 inches (28 cm) in London. Solid ice was reported extending for miles off the coasts of the southern North Sea (England, France and the Low Countries ), causing severe problems for shipping and preventing the use of many harbours. One of
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#1732790273390720-903: The Port of London , is managed by the Port of London Authority (PLA). The upstream limit of this authority is marked by an obelisk just short of Teddington Lock and to seaward by the London Stone at Yantlet Creek. The PLA is responsible for one lock on the Thames: Richmond Lock . Within Greater London, the Tideway is secured by the Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit . East of Crayford Ness, Essex Police and Kent Police assume responsibility in their respective jurisdictions. 21st-century criminal investigations have included
780-745: The Roberto Calvi and Torso in the Thames cases. London Fire Brigade maintains a fire boat on the river in central London. As a result of the Marchioness disaster in 1989, when 51 people died, the Government asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency , the Port of London Authority , and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to work together to set up a dedicated Search and Rescue service for
840-511: The sea-coal ...that one could hardly breath. An eye-witness account of the 1683–84 frost: On the 20th of December, 1688 [misprint for 1683], a very violent frost began, which lasted to the 6th of February, in so great extremity, that the pools were frozen 18 inches thick at least, and the Thames was so frozen that a great street from the Temple to Southwark was built with shops, and all manner of things sold. Hackney coaches plied there as in
900-766: The Greater Thames Estuary and is one of the largest inlets on the coast of Great Britain . The water can rise by 4 metres moving at a speed of 8 miles per hour. The estuary extends into London near Tower Bridge, and can be divided into the Outer Estuary up to the Swale at the west end of the Isle of Sheppey , and the Inner Estuary, designated the Thames Gateway above this point. The shore of
960-482: The Liquid Thames frozen o’re, That lately Ships of mighty Burthen bore The Watermen for want of Rowing Boats Make use of Booths to get their Pence & Groats Here you may see beef roasted on the spit And for your money you may taste a bit There you may print your name, tho cannot write Cause num'd with cold: tis done with great delight And lay it by that ages yet to come May see what things upon
1020-546: The Outer Estuary consists of saltmarshes and mudflats, but there are manmade embankments along much of the route. Behind these, the land is cultivated or used for grazing. Parts of the Outer Estuary are on a major shipping route. The Gateway is some 70 kilometres (43 mi) long, stretching from the Isle of Sheppey to Limehouse in Tower Hamlets . Its boundary was drawn to capture the riverside strip that formerly hosted many land extensive industries, serving London and
1080-784: The River Thames was in AD 695, although it was not known by the title of frost fair. The river froze over for six weeks. Vendors set up booths on the frozen river in which they sold goods. The first recorded frost fair for which the term "frost fair" was used was in 1608. There were barbers, pubs, fruitsellers and shoemakers, who lit fires inside of their tents to stay warm. Activities at the frost fair included football, and according to an article published in The Saturday Magazine in 1835, dancing, nine-pin bowling , and unlicensed gambling. The most celebrated frost fair occurred in
1140-779: The South East. The decline of these industries has left a legacy of large scale dereliction and contaminated land , but an opportunity for major redevelopment. The area includes the London Docklands , Millennium Dome , London Riverside and Thames Barrier . The Pool of London is divided into two parts, the Lower Pool and Upper Pool. The Lower Pool traditionally runs from the Cherry Garden Pier in Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge . The Upper Pool consists of
1200-636: The Thames due to the introduction of shipping containers and coastal deep-water ports in the 1960s emptied the Pool and led to all of the wharves being closed down. The Lower Pool area was extensively redeveloped in the 1980s and 1990s to create new residential and commercial neighbourhoods, often using converted warehouses. In the Upper Pool this provided scope for office development in the City of London and Southwark . Between London Bridge and Putney Bridge ,
1260-523: The Thames from Lechlade often pass through the London sections and finish well downstream, for example at Gravesend Pier. The Grand Union Canal joins the river at Brentford , with a branch – the Regent's Canal – joining at Limehouse Basin . The other part of the canal network still connecting on the Tideway is the River Lea Navigation via Bow Lock . Narrow low-lying belts beside
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#17327902733901320-449: The Tideway is home to most of London's rowing clubs, and is the venue for training and racing throughout the year. The Championship Course over which The Boat Race and many other events are run, stretches from Putney to Mortlake. Bull-baiting Bull-baiting is a blood sport involving pitting a bull against dogs with the aim of attacking and subduing the bull by biting and holding onto its nose or neck, which often resulted in
1380-492: The Tideway is still poor. Heavier rainfall in London causes overflows from pipes on the river banks from the standard type of sewer in the capital, the combined sewer . Around 39,000,000 m (3.9 × 10 L) or 39 million tonnes of untreated sewage mixed with rainwater are released into the Tideway each year from sewage treatment works and combined sewer overflows (CSOs), averaging 106,849 m (106,849,000 L) per day or 106,849 tonnes per day. These CSOs can cause
1440-681: The Winner, A good Ordinary at the King's Inn, between the Times of Baiting the Bulls. Bull baiting advertised in 1780 appears to indicate that it was organized by a local hostelry. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT an exceeding good BULL will be baited on Wednesday the 27th day of December 1780, near the DOG and STAR at Alresford, Hants, when and where a dinner will be given gratis to every person that shall produce
1500-407: The bear to death with its horns, or toss the bear into the air. Bull-baiting dogs, including Old English Bulldogs , Bullenbeissers , Spanish Bulldogs , Ca de Bous and bull and terriers , were bred to bait animals, mainly bulls and bears. During bull-baiting, the dog would attempt to flatten itself to the ground, creeping as close to the bull as possible, then darting out and attempting to bite
1560-863: The book, “One Snowy Night” by Amanda Grange , the characters go to the Frost Fair of 1814. In the Doctor Who episode " A Good Man Goes to War ," River Song encounters Rory Williams as she is returning to her cell in the Stormcage Containment Facility. She tells him that she has just been to 1814 for the last of the Great Frost Fairs. The Doctor had taken her there for ice-skating on the river Thames. "He got Stevie Wonder to sing for me under London Bridge ," she says. When Rory expresses surprise that Stevie Wonder sang in 1814, River cautions him that he must never tell
1620-587: The bull in the nose or head area. The bull would often be tethered by a collar and rope, which were staked into the ground. As the dog darted at the bull, the bull would attempt to catch the dog with his head and horns, and throw the dog into the air. In 1835, the Cruelty to Animals Act was passed in Parliament that outlawed "Blood Sport" in the United Kingdom. The bulldog's work was suddenly over and
1680-445: The bull's snout . The extinct Old English Bulldog was specially bred for this sport. Bull-baiting was not only practiced as a form of recreation; there was a long-held belief that baiting improved the meat quality and tenderness when consumed. By the early nineteenth century, the sport began to die out, both because the baiting caused a public nuisance and because of new concerns about animal cruelty. The Bull Baiting at Wokingham
1740-462: The bulldog rapidly started dying out. Around 1865, dog fanciers began developing dog clubs which eventually culminated into conformation shows . Many fanciers utilized various remnants of the dog utilized for "Blood Sport" to resurrect the "Bull" dog and ultimately developed today's modern English bulldog. Washington Irving , in his 1837 book, The Adventures of Captain Bonneville , wrote that
1800-487: The bulls that fought the bears, at least while California was part of the United States, were not domesticated Hereford bulls, but Spanish Fighting Bulls , whose weight, agility, speed, sharp horns, and hot temper were said to be dangerous to both bears and humans, and Wistar (1937) said that those bulls were fearless. In a case of the bull winning, victory could come early, when the bull used its strength to gore
1860-537: The death of the bull. Crowds in London during the Royal Entry of James VI and I in March 1604 were entertained by bull-baiting. During the time of Queen Anne , bull-baiting was practiced in London at Hockley-in-the-Hole , twice a week – and was also reasonably common in provincial towns, for instance at Birmingham 's Bull Ring . At Tutbury , a bull was tied to an iron stake so that it could move within
River Thames frost fairs - Misplaced Pages Continue
1920-513: The deaths of marine life and health hazards for river users. The Thames Tideway Scheme , under construction, aims to divert most of the overflow from sewers into a tunnel under the river. The Thames Estuary is bordered by the coast and the low-lying lands upstream between the mouth of the River Stour on the Essex / Suffolk border and The Swale in north Kent . It is now usually designated
1980-535: The earliest accounts of the Thames freezing comes from AD 250, when it was frozen solid for six weeks. In 923, the river was open to wheeled traffic for trade and the transport of goods for 13 weeks. In 1410, it lasted for 14 weeks. The period from the mid-14th century to the 19th century in Europe is called the Little Ice Age because of the severity of the climate, especially the winters. In England, when
2040-705: The ice broke up starting on 5 February, several people drowned. Nearly a dozen printing presses were also on the ice, producing commemorative poems. A printer named George Davis published a 124-page book, Frostiana; or A History of the River Thames In a Frozen State: and the Wonderful Effects of Frost, Snow, Ice, and Cold, in England, and in Different Parts of the World Interspersed with Various Amusing Anecdotes . The entire book
2100-513: The ice to the Horseferry from Westminster to Lambeth; as I came back I led him from Lambeth upon the middle of the Thames to Whitefriars ' stairs, and so led him up by them. And this day an ox was roasted whole, over against Whitehall. King Charles and the Queen ate part of it. Thames frost fairs were often brief, scarcely commenced before the weather lifted and the people had to retreat from
2160-479: The ice was thick enough and lasted long enough, Londoners would take to the river for travel, trade, and entertainment , the latter eventually taking the form of public festivals and fairs. The Thames was broader and shallower in the Middle Ages – it was yet to be embanked , meaning that it flowed more slowly. Moreover, old London Bridge , which carried a row of shops and houses on each side of its roadway,
2220-401: The ice were done The inscription is based on handbills printed on the Thames during the frost fairs. An early chapter of the novel Orlando: A Biography by Virginia Woolf takes place on the frozen River Thames during the Frost Fair of 1608. In the historical mystery, The True Confessions of a London Spy by Katherine Cowley key events of the plot occur at the Frost Fair of 1814. In
2280-480: The medieval London Bridge in 1831, there were 24 winters in which the Thames was recorded to have frozen over at London. The Thames freezes over more often upstream, beyond the reach of the tide, especially above the weirs , of which Teddington Lock is the lowest. The last great freeze of the higher Thames was in 1962–63. Frost fairs were a rare event even in the coldest parts of the Little Ice Age. Some of
2340-427: The melting ice. Rapid thaws sometimes caused loss of life and property. In January 1789, melting ice dragged a ship which was anchored to a riverside public house , pulling the building down and causing five people to be crushed to death. There were frost fairs in 1715–16, 1739–40, and 1789. The frost fair of 1814 began on 1 February, and lasted four days, between Blackfriars Bridge and London Bridge . An elephant
2400-451: The place before ten o'clock in the forenoon. A Bill for the suppression of the practice was introduced into the House of Commons in 1800 by Sir William Pulteney . The Bill was defeated by a one-vote margin. A second Bill was introduced in 1802 by John Dent , but was defeated by thirteen votes. Bull baiting was still taking place, a newspaper reported in 1818 that a bull being taken from
2460-519: The recorded frost fairs were in 695, 1608, 1683–84, 1716, 1739–40, 1789, and 1814. Recreational cold weather winter events were far more common elsewhere in Europe, for example in the Netherlands , where at least many canals often froze over. These events in other countries as well as the winter festivals and carnivals around the world in present times can also be considered frost fairs. However, very few of them have actually used that title. During
River Thames frost fairs - Misplaced Pages Continue
2520-564: The river in 1536, Queen Elizabeth I took to the ice frequently during 1564, to " shoot at marks ", and small boys played football on the ice. Soon after Beilby Porteus , Bishop of London , took residence at Fulham Palace in 1788, he recorded that the year was remarkable "for a very severe frost the latter end of the year, by which the Thames was so completely frozen over, that Mrs. Porteus and myself walked over it from Fulham to Putney ". The annual register recorded that, in January 1789,
2580-433: The river passes through Central London and some of the most famous landmarks. River boats carry tourists up down and across the river, and also provide a regular commuter service. (culverted tributaries largely converted to sewers are marked ‡) From Putney Bridge to Teddington Lock , the river passes through inner and outer suburbs such as Hammersmith , Chiswick , Barnes , Richmond on Thames and Ham . This part of
2640-434: The river was "completely frozen over and people walk to and fro across it with fairground booths erected on it, as well as puppet shows and roundabouts". In the pedestrian tunnel under the southern end of Southwark Bridge , there is an engraving by Southwark sculptor Richard Kindersley, made of five slabs of grey slate, depicting the frost fair. The frieze contains an inscription that reads (two lines per slab): Behold
2700-441: The section between Tower Bridge and London Bridge . In the 18th and 19th centuries the river was lined with nearly continuous walls of wharves running for miles along both banks, and hundreds of ships moored in the river or alongside the quays. The lack of capacity in the Pool of London prompted landowners to build London's Docklands with enclosed docks with better security and facilities. The abrupt collapse of commercial traffic in
2760-585: The singer that he did. The Doctor Who episode " Thin Ice " is set during the final frost fair in 1814, and includes a reference to the elephant crossing stunt. Tideway The Tideway is the part of the River Thames in England which is subject to tides . This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock . The Tideway comprises the upper Thames Estuary including the Pool of London . Depending on
2820-553: The stake to a stable had killed a man at Bilston Wake. Bulls were excluded from the protections afforded to other cattle in the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822 . Bull-baiting was not finally outlawed until parliament passed the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1835 , which forbade the keeping of any house, pit, or other places for baiting or fighting any bull, bear, dog, or other animals. Bull-baiting ( Irish : tarbh-ghríosú )
2880-451: The streets. There were also bull-baiting, and a great many shows and tricks to be seen. This day the frost broke up. In the morning I saw a coach and six horses driven from Whitehall almost to the bridge ( London Bridge ) yet by three o'clock that day, February the 6th, next to Southwark the ice was gone, so as boats did row to and fro, and the next day all the frost was gone. On Candlemas Day I went to Croydon market, and led my horse over
2940-483: The tidal River Thames. Since 2002, four lifeboat stations have been established on the Thames, at: Teddington , Chiswick , Tower Pier , and Gravesend . The River is navigable to large ocean-going ships as far as the Pool of London at London Bridge . The Port of London is the United Kingdom's second largest port by tonnage. Today, little commercial traffic passes above the Thames Barrier. Central London
3000-408: The tidal section of the Thames regularly flood at spring tides, supporting brackish plants. One such example is at Chiswick Lane South, where the river, as pictured, overflows this road a few times per year. (Picture taken in 2006). Although water quality has improved over the last 40 years and efforts to clean up the Tideway have led to the reintroduction of marine life and birds, the environment of
3060-455: The tide to flow more freely; and the river was embanked in stages during the 19th century, all of which made the river less likely to freeze. There was nearly a frost fair during the severe winter of 1881, with Andrews (1887) saying, "it was expected by many that a Frost Fair would once more be held on the Thames". The Thames froze over several times in the 16th century: King Henry VIII travelled from central London to Greenwich by sleigh along
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#17327902733903120-581: The time of year, the river tide rises and falls twice a day by up to 7 m (24 ft). Because the tide goes against the outflow of fresh water from the Thames Basin , it takes longer to subside (6–9 hours) than it does to flow in (4–5 hours). London Bridge is used as the basis for published tide tables giving the times of high tide . High tide reaches Putney about 30 minutes later. Low-lying banks of London are naturally vulnerable to flooding by storm surges . The threat has increased due to
3180-452: The winter of 1683–84. Activities included horse and coach racing, ice skating, puppet plays and bull-baiting , as well as football, nine-pin bowling , sledding, fox hunting, and throwing at cocks . John Evelyn 's account of the 1683-84 frost fair: Coaches plied from Westminster to the Temple , and from several other stairs too and fro, as in the streets; sleds, sliding with skeetes ,
3240-601: Was advertised in the newspaper in 1774. BULL BAITING. On Wednesday next, being St. Thomas's Day, Two Bulls will be baited in the Market-Place, Wokingham, which will be run for, a very handsome MOROCCO COLLAR, stitched with Silver, and a Silver Plate for a Label, of a Guinea and Half Value. Each Dog is to be let three Times at the first Bull, four Times at the second, and only one Dog run at a Time. The Owner of each Dog that runs, pays One Shilling for Entrance. Proper Judges will be appointed before running to determine who may be
3300-539: Was led across the river below Blackfriars. Temperatures had been below freezing every night from 27 December 1813 to 7 February 1814 and numerous Londoners made their way onto the frozen Thames. Tradesmen of all types set up booths to sell their wares, and pedlars circulated through the crowd. Food and drink was being sold including beef, Brunswick Mum , coffee, gin, gingerbread, hot apples, Old Tom gin , roast mutton , hot chocolate, purl (wormwood ale), and black tea. Activities included dancing and nine-pin bowling . As
3360-401: Was more severe than it is now, and the river was wider and slower, further impeded by the 19 piers of the medieval Old London Bridge which were removed in 1831. Even at its peak, in the mid-17th century, the Thames in London froze less often than modern legend sometimes suggests, never exceeding about one year in ten except for four winters between 1649 and 1666. From 1400 until the removal of
3420-405: Was not only a cause for merriment, as Evelyn explained: The fowls, fish and birds, and all our exotic plants and greens universally perishing. Many parks of deer were destroyed, and all sorts of fuel so dear that there were great contributions to keep the poor alive...London, by reason for the excessive coldness of the air hindering the ascent of the smoke, was so filled with the fuliginous steam of
3480-427: Was supported on many closely spaced piers ; these were protected by large timber casings which, over the years, were extended – causing a narrowing of the arches below the bridge, thus concentrating the water into swift-flowing torrents. In winter, large pieces of ice would lodge against these timber casings, gradually blocking the arches and acting like a dam for the river at ebb tide . The first known frost fair on
3540-477: Was typeset and printed in Davis's printing stall which had been set up on the frozen Thames. The book contained an account of the frost, humorous sayings, anecdotes, various weather-related histories and specifics about "skaiting" according to a 1814 review. This was the last frost fair. The climate was growing milder; old London Bridge was demolished in 1831 and replaced with a new bridge with wider arches, allowing
3600-710: Was widespread in Ireland in the 17th–19th centuries. In Dublin , bull-baiting took place near the Cornmarket and in Smithfield . On St Stephen's Day 1789, a riot followed a bull-bait: soldiers fired on the crowd and four were killed. In Wexford , the activity arrived in 1621, brought by the Guild of Butchers. Bulls were baited twice a year and their hides presented to the Mayor. The area where bull-baiting took place
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