1608.
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 the recorded frost fairs were in 695, 1608, 1683–84, 1716, 1739–40, 1789, and 1814.
When did the Thames last freeze in London?
January 1963
January 1963 was the coldest January since 1814, the last time the Thames had frozen. I share them today for several reasons, firstly because they are very beautiful photos, published here for the first time.
When did Thames freeze up?
Between 1600 and 1814, it was not uncommon for the River Thames to freeze over for up to two months at time. There were two main reasons for this; the first was that Britain (and the entire of the Northern Hemisphere) was locked in what is now known as the ‘Little Ice Age’.
How many times has the Thames froze?
Between 1309 and 1814, during which Britain was said to have experienced a “little ice age”, the Thames froze at least 23 times, and on five of those occasions impromptu frost fairs – described as being a cross between a Christmas market, circus and boisterous party – were held.
What caused the Thames to freeze over?
This was Old London Bridge, built on nineteen arches supported by small piers with projecting “starlings”, which broke up the flow of the river. In winter, when these arches were blocked with ice and debris, London Bridge almost acted like a dam, slowing the Thames and helping it to freeze.
How long did the 1963 big freeze last?
The Big Freeze, as it came to be known, began on Boxing Day 1962 with heavy snowfall and went on for nearly three months. Drifts reached up to 20 feet in places and the whole of the country was caught in its icy grip. Off the coast of Kent, the sea froze for up to a mile from shore as temperatures reached record lows.
What year was the big freeze in the UK?
1963
South Today has taken a look back in its archives at the winter of 1963 when a cold spell gripped the UK for several months. Viewers were also asked to send in their images depicting how snow and ice covered Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire.
Did the Thames freeze every year?
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 the recorded frost fairs were in 695, 1608, 1683–84, 1716, 1739–40, 1789, and 1814.
How cold did it get in 1963?
The winter of 1963 – the coldest for more than 200 years
With temperatures so cold the sea froze in places, 1963 is one of the coldest winters on record. Bringing blizzards, snow drifts, blocks of ice, and temperatures lower than -20 °C, it was colder than the winter of 1947, and the coldest since 1740.
What was the temperature when the Thames froze over?
-20C
The Thames has completely frozen over in the past, the last time being in January 1963 – the coldest winter for more than 200 years that brought blizzards, snow drifts and temperatures of -20C.
What the coldest London has ever been?
The highest temperature ever observed in London is 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) provisionally recorded at both Heathrow Airport and St James’s Park on 19 July 2022 and the lowest is −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) 1 January 1962.
How long did the big freeze of 2010 last?
But, 10 years ago, snow had blanketed most of the UK from December 17, 2009, to January 15, 2010 – in a winter which was described as the “big freeze”. It was the most widespread and prolonged spell of wintry weather across the country since 1981.
How cold was the Big Freeze 2010?
Temperatures fell widely below −10 °C (14 °F) with some areas staying sub-zero by day. On 2 December there was particularly low temperatures in major towns and cities, particularly in Scotland where it dropped to −18 °C (0 °F) in Aberdeen and on 3 December temperatures in England broke records.
When was the last time the English Channel froze?
The English Channel between Dover and Calais froze over in 1673. 5. The Victoria line, and Waterloo and City line, are the only two of the 11 London Underground lines that are entirely below ground. 6.
When was the Thames biologically dead?
1957
For the 20 miles of the Thames running through central London, DO levels weren’t even measurable. And from Kew to Gravesend, a 69 km length of river, no fish were recorded in the 1950s. Surveys in 1957 found the river was unable to sustain life, and the River Thames was eventually declared “biologically dead”.
Why does the Harbour of London not freeze during water?
12 ———————– Ans: – The harbor of London does not freeze in winter because of the influence of the gulf stream which sends a warm ocean current flowing from the gulf of Mexico & the shores of western Europe.
When was the coldest day in the UK?
In January 1982 the record minimum temperature for England, -26.1°C was recorded when skies cleared immediately following a deep powdery snowfall. Very cold continental airstreams affecting Scotland are subject to greater warming as they approach over longer stretches of sea.
How cold was the winter of 1963 UK?
-20°C
This snow set the scene for the next two months, as much of England remained covered every day until early March 1963. Blizzards, snowdrifts and blocks of ice were commonplace, and temperatures dropped below -20°C, colder than the winter of 1947 and the coldest since 1740.
How cold was the 1962/63 winter?
-30C
With temperatures plummeting to -30C at a time before most homes had the benefit of central heating, this was cold like people had never experienced before. It froze rivers, waterfalls, fountains and bottles of milk. That is, if the milkman could even reach your doorstep to deliver.
What was the winter of 1976 like in the UK?
1875-76: Amazingly snowy winter for the UK, especially the South East early on, the first week of December dumped 1-2ft in some places, worst in the South East. March of this month had many snowstorms, and April recorded nearly 2ft of snow in the Midlands!
When was the deepest snowfall in England?
The deepest snow ever recorded in an inhabited area of the UK was near Ruthin in North Wales during the severe winter of 1946-47. A series of cold spells brought large drifts of snow across the UK, causing transport problems and fuel shortages. During March 1947 a snow depth of 1.65 metres was recorded.