Monument record MDO6217 - Icehouse, Hanford

An icehouse built into a bank, and consisting of a domed, brick-built ice well around 4.5 metres in diameter and about 3.6 metres deep from ground level. Thought to have served Hanford House and Stepleton House.

(ST 85361124) Icehouse (NAT). <1>

Ice House (85361124), of brick, consists of circular domed chamber (14ft. diam) sunk in the ground. The entrance is on the north side. It is probably of the early 19th century and from its position appears likely to have served both Hanford House and Stepleton House. <2>

<1> Ordnance Survey, Ordnance Survey map 1:10,560, 1962 (Map). SDO18658.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume III (Central) Part 1, 104 No 3 (Monograph). SDO146.

‘(3) ICE HOUSE (85361124), of brick, consists of a circular domed chamber (14 ft. diam.) sunk in the ground. The entrance is on the N. side. It is probably of the early 19th century and from its position appears likely to have served both Hanford House and Stepleton House (see p. 132).’

<3> Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1987, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1986, 199 (Serial). SDO86.

‘Hanford House, Childe Okeford [sic] ST 853112. This ice well (Type 1a) is built into a high steep bank flanking the road from Stourpaine to Childe Okeford. Prior to my last visit in 1983 the ice well was shaded by many large trees including both beech and chestnut. The trees had been planted in a manner which enabled a cart to negotiate an uphill track leading from the road to a flat level area immediately adjacent to the north facing entrance passage of the ice well. This area was no doubt used for turning and unloading the ice cart. Judging by the size of the tree stumps remaining the in the vicinity, the trees were about 150 years old when recently felled.

The brick-built ice well is approximately 15 ft (4.5 m) diameter and the bottom is about 12 ft (3.6 m) beneath the sill of the entrance door. The vault of the well is domed and rises some 7 ft. (2 m) above the door sill. The passage way leading to this door is about 6 ft (1.8 m) long, 5 ft (1.5 m) high and 3 ft (0.9 m) wide and is capped with a segmental arched vault.

It appears that the entrance passage was constructed separately and is butting against the well, rather than being built into its structure. Some damage has occurred to the exterior termination of the passage. Two large iron reinforcing bars and plates remain in situ, one on each side of the passage. These may be assumed to have tied the passage structure to the well. The fragments of a wooden door frame remain at the end of the passage. It is not possible to see the bottom of the well due to an accumulation of debris deposited since the ice well was last used.’

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 206188 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Oct 14 2022 11:38AM