The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the AlmanacHone, William
History
The Every-day Book and Table Book. v. 2 (of 3): or Everlasting Calendar of Popular Amusements, Sports, Pastimes, Ceremonies, Manners, Customs and Events, Incident to Each of the Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days, in past and Present Times; Forming a Complete History of the Year, Month, and Seasons, and a Perpetual Key to the Almanac
Hone, William
Days; Great Britain -- Social life and customs
On the 20th, in consequence of the great accumulation of snow in London,
it became necessary to relieve the roofs of the houses by throwing off
the load collected upon them. By this means the carriage-ways in the
middle of the streets were rendered scarcely passable; and the streams
constantly flowing from the open plugs, added to the general mass of
ice.
Many coach proprietors, on the northern and western roads, discontinued
to run their coaches. In places where the roads were low, the snow had
drifted above carriage height. On Finchley-common, by the fall of one
night, it lay to a depth of sixteen feet, and the road was impassable
even to oxen. On Bagshot-heath and about Esher and Cobham the road was
completely choked up. Except the Kent and Essex roads, no others were
passable beyond a few miles from London. The coaches of the western road
remained stationary at different parts. The Windsor coach was worked
through the snow at Colnbrook, which was there sixteen feet deep, by
employing about fifty labourers. At Maidenhead-lane, the snow was still
deeper; and between Twyford and Reading it assumed a mountainous
appearance. Accounts say that, on parts of Bagshot-heath, description
would fail to convey an adequate idea of its situation. The Newcastle
coach went off the road into a pit upwards of eight feet deep, but
without mischief to either man or horse. The middle North-road was
impassable at Highgate-hill.
* * * * *
On the 22d of January, and for some time afterwards, the ice on the
Serpentine in Hyde-park bore a singular appearance, from mountains of
snow which sweepers had collected together in different situations. The
spaces allotted for the skaters were in circles, squares, and oblongs.
Next to the carriage ride on the north side, many astonishing evolutions
were performed by the skaters. Skipping on skates, and the Turk-cap
backwards, were among the most conspicuous. The ice, injured by a
partial thaw in some places, was much _cut up_, yet elegantly dressed
females dashed between the hillocks of snow, with great bravery.
* * * * *
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