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