Posted by Jessamyn on July 11, 1997 at 22:23:17:
In reply to Frost Fairs posted by Jenna on July 11, 1997 at 12:13:48
] Is anyone familiar with this term? It seems that a few times throughout London's history, the Thames froze in the winter due to poor current. The last time this happened was in the winter of 1813-14. (With the construction of the New London Bridge, the flow problem was remedied.)
This is sort of a tangent, but apparently it happened during the Renaissance (Queen Elizabeth I's reign, to be more specific). Unfortunately I don't know much real history about it, but I believe they had big skating parties and races and the nobles even (I think I've got this right) went for sled rides on the river.
It's not a historical source, but Virginia Woolf uses it very evocatively as a setting in her odd-but-fascinating novel Orlando. Perhaps you've seen the movie?
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