ORANGE Stories

Thomas and Mary Ann would have been suffering from the cold winter of 1846. As it was reported that the Thames froze over, though, even if they had known, was not as bad as in the previous centuries, when, I may add, Londoners came out in their thousands to participate in the fun of the “Frost Fairs”!.. Mary Ann was due to give birth in the Summer of 1846… And indeed, Baby Mary Ann was born that Summer. The weather was, (as ever), unpredictable.

Having suffered the harsh winter, and I suspect, anticipating a good Summer to follow, twas not the case at all.

Londoners, hoping for a rather pleasant Summer, experienced hailstorms like they had never seen before…There were reports of windows breaking all over London!

A little further back during the winter of 1840, London was hit by hurricanes, some lasting for 2 days.. The London Docks were particularly affected by turbulent waves and boats had to “lie to” in the hope they would not become wrecked in the storms. Companies must have lost an awful lot of money, as the Thames became a litter bin for debris, produce, wood and coal during that year.

In 1852 The Thames froze over yet again, I wonder of Thomas John Orange took his two little children to the Thames, in 1852…

Back in 1842 a whale caught off of Deptford Pier, twas a 16ft long species weighing 2 tons, such a remarkable catch, that it was put on show in a local pub… Could Thomas John or any of his family have made the trip to see the catch! I doubt it.

BUT, Amazingly, when I typed this information up, news came on local TV that on 20 Januray 2005 a whale came into the Thames, at Battersea Bridge.. Scientists discover the reason the whales come in through to the Thames, is a sign they are sick, and are finding shallow waters to die in.