Details from Frost Fair

During the 17th Century, the River Thames in London would often freeze sufficiently to allow the famous frost fairs to take place. In the winter of 1683/84, the ice was almost a foot thick and the Thames remained frozen for weeks. Boats were fitted with skates and stalls set up with food, shops and games.

The scene was described by John Evelyn: 'Coaches plied from Westminster to the Temple, and from several other stairs too and fro, as in the streets; sleds, sliding with skeetes, a bull-baiting, horse and coach races, puppet plays and interludes, cooks, tipling and other lewd places, so that it seemed to be a bacchanalian triumph, or carnival on the water.'

Graham Turner's painting is packed with narrative details showing some of the entertainments that were on offer - below are several enlarged cropped images taken from the painting . CLICK HERE to return to the gallery page for full details of this painting.

17th Century London Frost Fair on the Thames - Original painting by Graham Turner

17th Century London Frost Fair on the Thames - detail from a painting by Graham Turner

These are close up cropped details taken from 'Frost Fair', an original gouache painting by Graham Turner. CLICK HERE to return to the gallery page for full details of this painting.