Ice, ice Blaby
NEW pictures show the inside of a Victorian ice house in Blaby which is set to be transformed.
The mid-19th century cellar in the grounds of Bouskell Park was once used to store ice, collected from the nearby lake during the freezing Victorian winters, and used for serving with food at Blaby Hall.
James Poynton, a parks officer with Blaby District Council, gave our sister paper the Leicester Mercury a tour of the 8ft-long chamber, which is to be restored with the help of £155,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
It is hoped the long-abandoned building will once more become a hive of activity, with visitors coming to explore an unusual landmark and its history.
James said: “It would have been used for storing ice throughout the winter which would have been collected on the lake behind the ice house.
“That would have been used in Blaby Hall, which is just adjacent to here, for keeping food chilled on the table. It could possibly have been carved into ice sculptures or ice slabs.
“Back then it was colder and they’d have plenty of ice to collect off the lake.
“The feature on the ceiling, that’s where they would have dropped the ice in through the winter. Then they’d have tried not to open the doors because they’d be letting warm air in.
“You’ve got a drain where, as it melts, it would have drained back into the pond. It’s a cavity wall and that keeps the ice for longer, which is a very early example of technology being used.
“It would have been sheet ice in this case. For some ice houses throughout the country they used to tow icebergs into port and cut off chunks and distribute it round stately homes.”
Blaby Ice House is an 1840s-built, Grade II-listed structure and the district council wants to turn it into a tourist attraction.
The lottery money, along with further cash from the district council, will be used to research the structure, promote it and offer guided tours, as well as community events and a two-day archaeological dig in the area.
A district council spokesman said: “It is also anticipated to become a tourist attraction for the district as the council continues to invest in boosting tourism in the area.
“Thorough research will be undertaken to uncover the history of its use and efforts will be made to promote the ice house and pond, highlighting its history with guided visits and community events.
“A two-day community archaeological dig will also be organised, enabling handon learning for both local volunteers and schools.”
Planning is already under way, with the district council having consulted with Leicestershire County Council, a landscaping company, a structural engineer and the University of Leicester Archaeological Services Team. It is hoped the community archaeological dig will take place in the summer.
The council said more information about the project would be revealed in the coming months.