American Photography 36 Winners

1814 Frost Fair

1814 Frost Fair. February 2019. Temperatures across the Western world plunged between the 17th and early 19th centuries. It became known as the Little Ice Age. During the coldest winters the river Thames froze over and on several occasions between 1608 and 1814 London witnessed a series of historic spectacles - The Frost Fairs.

1814 Frost Fair

1814 Frost Fair. February 2019. Temperatures plunged across the western world in the 17th and 19th centuries: the Little Ice Age. In London during the coldest winters the Thames would freeze solid, and on seven occasions between 1608 and 1814 the city witnessed the historic spectacle of the Frost Fairs. All London flowed out onto the unflowing river in 1814. Tents were erected and makeshift markets quickly emerged, as innkeepers and tradespeople eagerly made the most out of this temporary wonder. Thousands ventured onto the ice to witness the event and be part of this impromptu festival. Rich mixed with poor, people gorged themselves on meat roasted on open fires and whilst the pickpockets and prostitutes made what they could in the shadows the crowds were mesmerised by this mix of festival, circus, street show & brothel. They soaked it all up and were dumbfounded when an African elephant was led across the ice.