Underground London - Woodlands Park Ice House, Acton

Woodlands Park is a tiny park in Acton, west London. It was formerly part of the six acre private garden to "Woodlands", a Victorian house. The house was demolished in 1903. The house had an ice house in the grounds (below the red marker), it is located next to a pond -  

This is a typical ice house, being an underground brick lined chamber, sunk into a hill and shaded with trees. Ice was taken from the nearby pond. The ice was stacked in the chamber, the sides of which were lined with straw. The ice could last until summer. Any melt water was drained through a hole at the bottom. 

In 2006 the ice house was restored and the pond recreated. 

There is a lovely tree growing alongside the ice house -

The house is gated so I could only stick my camera through the grill -

Info plaque from Heritage Lottery fund -

The pond -

See more on Woodlands Park.

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Underground London - Hampton ice house

I've already posted about a couple of old ice storage places in London, the Manor Gardens ice house and the ice well at Regent's Canal.

In the days before fridges, large houses would have an ice well or house. These were pits with a circular roof to allow ventilation. They were often brick lined and packed with straw. The ice would last for month. See more on the London ice houses.

The Hampton ice house is situated in Home Park by Hampton Court. It is situated to the left of the path from the Hampton Wick entrance. 

It was built 1625-26, commissioned by King James. It is 12 sided and sits on a small mound. This Country Life article says "It is known to have been a brick-lined round well, 30 ft (9.1 m) deep and 16 ft (4.8m) wide and covered with a thatched timber building. "

I can't find any reports that give more info about this ice house. As it is located near a pond, ice could have been taken from there. Alternatively ice could have come by boat on the Thames, although I think imported ice from Norway and America only started in the 1800s). These are just my ideas.