What secrets lie beneath the earth? Right here, hidden beneath layers of time and soil, lies the Ice House. This isn’t just a hole in the ground. This is a testament to ingenuity, a time capsule from an era before refrigerators. The Ice House, you see, was a marvel of 19th-century engineering. The story begins with the railway. In 1870, the railway reached west of Inverness. This opened up new possibilities for industries like fishing. Suddenly, the salmon caught at nearby fishing stations could be transported fresh to markets far and wide, even as far as London. But there was a problem. How do you keep the salmon fresh on those long journeys? The answer lay in the frigid waters of Loch na beiste. During winter, the loch would freeze over, offering a bounty of ice. This ice was carefully collected, transported to the Ice House, and then deposited through a hatch, which is near where the front door is today. The Ice House, with its thick walls and underground location, acted as a giant refrigerator, preserving the precious ice throughout the year. The salmon, packed in this ice, could then be safely transported by train, ensuring they arrived at their destination as fresh as the day they were caught. The Ice House, now a silent sentinel of a bygone era, stands as a reminder of the ingenuity and resourcefulness of those who came before us.
Duke Street United Reformed Church
Hidden within the bustling streets of Leith, Duke Street United Reformed Church has witnessed over 150 years of Edinburgh’s history.