extensively restored. The one at Compton
Verney, Warwickshire, is a particularly
pretty example. Built sometime in the
early 1770s, it had fallen out of use within
around 30 years. A two-year restoration
project began in 2010. Shaded by yew trees
to shelter it from the warmth of the sun,
it includes a two-room entry “tunnel” to
further insulate and protect the contents.
Other fine examples of thatched icehouses
include those at Holkham Hall, Norfolk,
and Croome Park, near Worcester.
Holkham Hall was built by Thomas Coke,
1st Earl of Leicester, on his return from the
grand tour and the icehouse probably dates
from the early 1730s, although it has been
modified a number of times since then.
As commercially collected ice became
more available in the latter part of the
19th century, privately owned icehouses
became redundant. Maintenance ceased,
doors were locked, pits were filled in or
used as dumping grounds for rubble and
rubbish, and soil heaped over the dome or
thatched roofs. Ironically, their dereliction
contributed to their longer-term survival –
covering the buildings tended to preserve
the internal structures.
In the case of the Regent’s Crescent
icehouse – now designated as a scheduled
monument by Historic England – survival
has been something of a lucky accident.
Having avoided Second World War
bombing, it also escaped damage during the
building of the nearby Jubilee Underground
line. Once restored by the buildings
archaeologists from MOLA, working on
behalf of the developer, Great Marlborough
Estates, the icehouse will be incorporated
into the gardens of Regent’s Crescent and it
is hoped that public access, via a new viewing
corridor, will be made available at certain
times of year.
A large number of Georgian and
Victorian icehouses are open to the public
and Tim Buxbaum’s excellent book on the
subject lists locations where they can be seen
in the UK, Europe and North America.Icehouses by Tim Buxbaum is published
by Shire Books at £6.99 (paperback)