Was ice cream always a modern treat? Not at Belhus Icehouse. It’s an 18th-century relic. This icehouse stored ice year-round. Imagine keeping food cold before refrigerators. Let’s step back in time and explore this fascinating structure.
Belhus Icehouse stands as a testament to ingenuity. It highlights the resourcefulness of past generations. Icehouses were vital before modern refrigeration. They allowed the preservation of food. They even enabled the creation of frozen desserts like ice cream.
Belhus Park’s icehouse dates back to the mid-18th century. It was part of a grand landscape design. Architects like ‘Capability’ Brown and Richard Woods may have influenced its construction. Sanderson Miller, a friend of Thomas Barrett-Lennard, may also have played a role. The icehouse is a well-shaped hollow lined with bricks. A circular clay mound covers it. Trees offer shade. The entrance faces north.
Ice came from the estate’s ponds. Workers harvested ice in winter. They stored it in the icehouse. The thick walls and underground location insulated the ice. This kept it frozen for months. Chapman and Andre’s 1777 map shows a mound near the Long Pond. This is likely the Belhus Icehouse.
In 1979, Terry Carney excavated the site for the Thurrock Museum. The excavation revealed the entrance passage foundations. Buttresses supported the roof. Repairs using a dark grey mortar suggest use into the late 19th century.
The Belhus Icehouse had a platform inside. Ice was stored above this platform. The platform sloped to allow water runoff. A small drain led from the well. The floor consisted of large bricks. The icehouse used red bricks without frogs.
No steps or ornamentation were found during the excavation. A large wooden padlock from the late 19th century was discovered. This may be related to later use. Local stories suggest it became a game store later on.
Belhus Icehouse might be linked to improvements by Lord Dacre. He lived from 1717 to 1786. These improvements included a pond and ornamental mounds. A 1760s date is suggested for the icehouse construction.
Today, the Belhus Icehouse is a ruin. Modern refuse lies beneath a metal grid. Vegetation obscures the mound’s shape. Wooden steps lead to the remaining brickwork. The site lacks signage and can be easily missed.
Belhus Icehouse represents a crucial element of historical estates. It showcases how people coped with daily life before modern technology. Take a moment to appreciate the ingenuity behind this simple yet vital structure. It once ensured the delights of ice cream even in summer.