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The \u2018Frost Fair\u2019, held on the frozen River Thames, caused a sensation on 20th December, 1683, when all London society, from Charles II down, came out to enjoy a bacchanalian Christmas on the ice. The festivities were a great relief for a nation riddled with smallpox, and enduring what was possibly Britain\u2019s coldest ever Winter.\nAmong the entertainments on offer were fox-hunting, cock-fighting, sledding, coach-racing, pop-up barbers, barbecues and public houses, and, um, a lot of sex workers. Plus something called \u2018Dutch Whimsy\u2019.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly ask why the monarch\u2019s attendance at the event was so important to the capital\u2019s watermen; reveal how printed souvenirs came to be THE must-have keepsake from the fair; and explain how the \u2018new\u2019 London Bridge ruined all the frost fair fun\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018The Great Frost Fair of 1683-4\u2019 (History Today, 1960): https://www.historytoday.com/archive/feature/great-frost-fair-1683-4\n\u2022 \u2018A Carnival on the Water: the Frost Fair of 1683\u2019 (British Library, 2017) : https://blogs.bl.uk/untoldlives/2017/05/a-carnival-on-the-water-the-frost-fair-of-1683.html\n\u2022 \u2018Frost Fairs: London's Frozen Thames\u2019 (Museum of London, 2014):\xa0\nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM923V4G6zs\n#1600s #London #Christmas\nLove the show? Join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\xa0\U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices