Great Frost of 1813 and 1814

The Wonders of the World Comprising the Most Remarkable Curiosities of Nature and Art by the Rev. C.C. Clarke ( 1835 ) at 406-408

The great fog which preceded this remarkable frost commenced in London, on the evening of the 29th of December 1813, about two hours before Lord Castlereagh set out from London on his way to embark for the Continent. Happily his Lordship proceeded on his journey without interruption; it was not so with the Prince Regent, who, intending to pay a visit to the Marquis of Salisbury, at Hatfield-House, was obliged to return back to Carlton House, after one of his out-riders had fallen into a ditch on this side of Kentish Town, and which short excursion occupied several hours. Mr. Croker of the Admiralty, also wishing to proceed on a visit northward, wandered in the dark for several hours, without making more than three or four miles' progress.

This tremendous fog, or “darkness that might be felt!” continued till the 3d of January. On most of the roads, excepting the high north road, traveling was performed with the utmost danger, and the progress of the mails was greatly impeded. On Wednesday, the 29th of December, the Birmingham mail was nearly seven hours going from the Post-Office to a mile or two below Uxbridge, a distance of twenty miles only. On this, and the other venings, the short stages in the neighbourhood of London had two persons with links running by the horses’ heads; nevertheless, with this and other precautions, some serious and many whimsical accidents occurred. Pedestrians even carried links or lanterns, and many who were not provided with these illuminators, lost themselves in the most frequented, and, at other times, well-known streets. Hackney-coachmen mistook the pathway for the road, and vice versa, the greatest confusion occurring.

On the 31st of December, the state of the metropolis, in consequence of the increased fog, was a night truly alarming. It required great attention and knowledge of the public streets to proceed any distance, and those persons who had any material business to transact, were unavoidably compelled to carry torches. The usual lamps appeared through the haze no bigger than small candles. The most careful hackney-coachmen got off the box, and led their horses, while others drove only at a walking pace. There were frequent meetings of carriages, and great mischief ensued. Among the passengers much caution and apprehension prevailed. Many, alarmed at the idea of being run down, made exclamations, such as “Who is coming?” “Mind!” “Take care!” &c. Females who had ventured abroad before the fog came on, were placed under great peril; several missed their way. Such was the extreme density of the atmosphere, on Tuesday the 28th, that the Maidenhead coach, on its return from town, missed the road near Harford-Bridge, and was overturned. Lord Hawarden was among the passengers, and received an injury by the accident.

Almost immediately on the cessation of the fogs, heavy falls of snow took place. There is nothing in the memory of and to equal these falls. After several shorter intervals, the snow continued incessantly for forty-eight hours, and this, too, after the ground was covered with a condensation, the result of nearly four weeks' frost. Almost the whole of the time the wind blew continually from the north, and north-east, and was intensely cold. A short thaw also which scarcely lasted one day, only rendered the state of the streets so much worse. Hence the mass of snow and water became so thick, that it was with difficulty that the hackney-coachmen, with an additional horse, and other vehicles, could plough their way through. Almost all kinds of trades and callings, carried on in the streets, stopped, which considerably increased the distress of the lower orders. Few carriages, even stages, could travel on the roads, which, even about town, seemed deserted. From many buildings icicles, full a yard and half long, were seen suspended. The house water-pipes were all frozen, whence it became necessary to have plugs in the streets for the supply of all ranks of people. The Thames from London Bridge to Blackfriars was, for nearly a fortnight, completely blocked up at ebb tide.

All the ponds and rivers in the neighbourhood of London were completely frozen, and skating was pursued with great avidity on the Canal in St. James’s and the Serpentine in Hyde-Park. On Monday, the 10th of January, the Canal and the Basin in the Green-Park were conspicuous for the number of steel-shoed heroes who covered their glassy surfaces, and who, according to their respective qualities, administered to the pleasure of the throng which crowded their banks; some, by the agility and grace with which they performed their evolutions, and others by the tumbles and other accidents which marked their clumsy career. There was, as usual, a motley collection of all orders of his Majesty’s subjects, engaged in the busy scene, who seemed all alike eager candidates for the applause of the multitude; and sweep, dustman, drummer, or beau, each seemed conscious of possessing some claim, not only to his own good opinion, but to that of the fair belles, who reviewed his movements. There were several accidents in the course of the day, but none we believe of a serious nature.

While these parks were thus numerously attended, Hyde-Park had to boast of a more distinguished order of visitors, who, in the course of the afternoon, flocked in prodigious crowds to the bans of the Serpentine, which was covered with most excellent ice. Notwithstanding the keenness of the breeze, several females of dash, clad in robes of the richest fur, bid defiance to its chilling embrace, and so on the fragile bosom of the river ventured their fair frames. The skaters were in great numbers, and were of first-rate note. Some of the most difficult movements of the art were executed with an agility and grace which excited universal admiration.

A lady and two officers performed a reel with a precision scarcely conceivable, and attracted a very numerous circle of spectators, whose boisterous applause so completely terrified the fair cause of their ecstasy, as to induce her to forego the pleasure she herself received from the amusement, and to put an end to that which she afforded to such as were disposed to admire her in silence.