Monument record MHG29834 - Icehouse, Invergarry

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NH 3142 0048 (12m by 12m)
Map sheet NH30SW
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Civil Parish KILMONIVAIG
Geographical Area LOCHABER

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Close by but outside and to SW of walled garden. Substantially underground with domed roof. Date unknown but mansion built 1866-69, walled garden known to be operational by 1871 so date of construction probably thereabouts. Access now securely closed for safety.
H M Rogers, Invergarry, 1998.

Architect plans drawn by William Paterson, Architects of Inverness dated 1874 survive, suggesting the icehouse was built shortly thereafter. Marion Ellice, now deceased, told the current owner that when she was young the ice from the icehouse was not used for preserving food, but for making ice-cream and sherbert and for chilling the drinks.

The plans clearly show the care taking in building the icehouse, including tile floor drainage pipes leading to a cesspool. They called for the ground to be excavated to produce an underground, double-walled, domed chamber, stone-built, lined and covered with a 3 foot earth mound. The entrance passage, facing NE, had 3 sets of doors, with approximately 10 feet between the 2 outer doors. The outer door was further sheltered by a small stone lintel and curved wing walls to north and south. There is a levelled area between the door and the driveway sufficent to allow for carts to load or unload stocks of ice.

Today the site is now overgrown with vegetation and surrounded by trees. The mound is clearly visible and does not appear to be disturbed. There is no evidence to show that the southern wall extended as far as shown on the original architect's plan. The domed face of the building and wingwalls are of dressed sandstone, now covered in moss and vegetation. All three doors are missing. A hinge in the outer wall and site of fixings on the inner walls show their original location. The smooth inner lining of the passage walls and ceiling, though cracked, are in surpringly good condition. A small step markes the site of the inner door. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

  • <1> Collection/Project Archive: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 08/2011. Digital site gazetteer and archive for ARCH Community Timeline Project: Invergarry. Yes. Site 25.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Nov 8 2011 3:21PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.