Frozen Walking Tour – Tales from the Frost Fair
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Frozen – Tales from the Frost Fair
Just six months before the Battle of Waterloo, London experienced its last ever frost fair.
A series of mini ice-ages, that kicked off in the late 7th century, caused the Thames and even the sea to freeze over. The thick ice brought river traffic and business to a standstill.
But threats create opportunities and frost fairs were devised by entrepreneurial locals from 1600 onwards. Designed to appeal to the senses, they became the epicentre of bawdy and surprising entertainment, food, drink – and even hunting on ice! Nobody realised that 1814 would see the final frost fair, a changing climate, on the very eve of the industrial revolution, meant the River would never freeze again.
Join Blue Badge guide Mr Londoner to explore all the fun of the fair and draw some parallels with our own times.
Meet outside Rabot, 2-4 Bedale St, London SE1 9AL
This tour is part of the Frost Fair which Better Bankside is running across December and January. Frost Fair is a homage to the area’s unique history, celebrating the characters and fascinating stories from past winters in the Southwark borough. There’s lots more happening across the area, find out more here.
