What day! January 13, 1205 1 206

1205 In England, a great frost began that left the ground too frozen to plough until March 20.

 

Those who worked the land became quickly unemployed; food became extremely scarce, and thus expensive. "Also the money was so sore clipped that there was no remedy but to have it renewed", says Stowe's Chronicle, referring to the 'clipping' or shaving of coins, an old trick practised to steal small amounts of silver from the government. It might just be that this event gave rise to the folklore about St Hilary's day (today) being the coldest of the year, though probably just because it is the middle of the coldest month.