The ice houses close to Pontypool museum are unique and of great historical
significance for three reasons:
(a)
This pair of ice houses are each constructed
with a double chamber. There are no
other double chamber ice houses recorded in Britain. They were usually one chamber only.
(b)
Ice
Houses were usually built individually, not in pairs at here.
(c)
The close proximity of the ice houses to Park House, the Hanbury family home, now st
Albans School, is also unusual.
Pontypool museum is now housed in the old stables of Park
House.
“There are a number of reports that the ice houses have been subject to a landslip which has covered the access door. Investigations have shown that this is not the case and access to the ice houses was, and always has been through the top opening. It is also likely that the structure had a roof which may have been thatched to ensure as much insulation as possible.
Ice to fill the houses would have been taken from the Nant-y-Gollen Ponds and the nearby Monmouth and Brecon Canal.
In 1864 the Free Press noted that “ice had been very plentiful and large quantities were secured for the Park ice house.”
Ice was contaminated and not used in food preparation, although in later years with the advent of the railway, it was possible to purchase clean ice which could be used in food.
The icehouses have now been fully restored with funding from Cadw, the Heritage Lottery Fund and Torfaen County Borough Council.”
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