Building record 1010/0/34 - C18th Icehouse, Althorp Park

An 18th century icehouse in the grounds of Althorp Park. The icehouse is built of brick and stone and is covered by an earthen mound. Entry is down a short flight of steps into an outer chamber, from which a short tunnel leads to the main ice chamber. The ice chamber is cylindrical and measures 6 metres deep and 3 metres in diameter. Ice was gathered from the nearby Great Stew Pond.

{1} Icehouse was built in Althorp Park in the C18th; it is situated on a hill and entered by a short flight of steps which leads into a small chamber. The structure was built of stone and brick and covered with a layer of earth. The ice was gathered from The Great Stew Pond nearby.

{3} The icehouse at Althorp Park was assessed by the Oxford Archaeological Unit in 1995 as part of the Monuments Protection Programme but it does not appear to have been designated despite recommendations that it should be scheduled. An 18th century icehouse situated on a hill in Althrop Park (NGR: SP 685 652). Entry to the icehouse is down a short flight of steps leading to the first chamber, from which there is a short passage to a door leading to a cylindrical shaft. This shaft measures 6 metres deep and 3 metres in diameter. The whole structure is built of stone and brick and covered with earth. It is sited within Icehouse Wood which was planted in 1798 and ice was gathered from the Great Stew Pond nearby. The icehouse is double chambered and therefore quite unusual. [Gives incorrect NGR]

<1> Beaman S.P.; Roaf S., 1990, Ice Houses of Britain, (part checked) (Uncertain). SNN42415.

<2> 1964, Country Life (1964), (unchecked) (Journal). SNN56436.

<3> OXFORD ARCHAEOLOGICAL UNIT, 1995, Monuments Protection Programme Step 3 report: Site Evaluation for Ice Houses, Site 1 (Report). SNN113460.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2024 1:02PM