NHER 12463 (Building record) - The Icehouse

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Summary

An unusual example of a late 17th or early 18th century thatched icehouse. The icehouse has an underground brick chamber with a steeply pitched thatched roof. The entrance has a red brick crowstepped gable and a barrel-vaulted passage.

Protected Status/Designation

Location

Map sheet TF84SE
Civil Parish HOLKHAM, NORTH NORFOLK, NORFOLK

Map

Restored 17th century (and so pre present park layout).
Entrance in brick wall under stepped gable leads to tunnel partly sunken, thatched on top; leading into domed chamber, roof corbelled in; thatched exterior.
Visited by E. Rose (NAU) 30 April 1977.

Informant [1] does not agree with 17th century date; he points to references (as supplied by [2]) to storing ice in grottoes and porches in 1739 which he suggests means there was no icehouse; but it was there by 1744. Indications that passage and outer door are later additions.
Pulley wheel in vault. There is a reference to enlarging the icehouse in 1752.
An extension to the lake was made to enable ice to be more easily collected. Thatched roof had gone by 1943 so present is a restoration.
Photograph in file.
E. Rose (NAU) 10 April 1984.

  • --- Designation: Historic England. National Heritage List for England. List Entry 1373662.
  • --- Monograph: Beamon, S. & Roaf, S.. 1990. The Ice-houses of Britain..
  • --- Newspaper Article: Eastern Daily Press. 2009. [Photographs of Holkham Hall during winter]. 22 December.
  • --- Photograph: BCD 10.
  • --- Photograph: ELF 22-3.
  • --- Record Card: NAU Staff. 1974-1988. Norfolk Archaeological Index Primary Record Card.
  • --- Secondary File: Secondary File.
  • --- Unpublished Document: Oxford Archaeological Unit. MPP Ice-house Assessment.

Object Types (0)

Record last edited

Feb 18 2025 2:10PM

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