Oldfield Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 4EQ

Other site, structure or landscape

Assets that cannot fit any of the other categories. This category includes sites of archaeological interest, where the original form and function may not be apparent without the use of archaeological techniques and interpretation.

Asset type

18th-century ice house. Investigated by the South Trafford Archaeological Group

Age

18th Century

Rarity

Limited number within Trafford. Records suggest that around 3,000 estate ice houses were built nationally between 1750-1875 and were considered a status symbol for the wealthy.

Architectural and Artistic Interest

Not much of the structure remains visible above ground, except a small brick arch.

Group Value

Historic Interest

The land on which John Leigh Park and the ice house is located was previously the site of Oldfield Hall, a house of some prominence in the area. Numerous people of interest lived in Oldfield Hall starting in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The area itself would have seen many changes over the course of history, in particular the new transport links that were developed in the late 18th century, which allowed for easy movement of raw cotton and processed goods between the region and the port of Liverpool. It was during this time that the nearby Bridgewater canal was built and passed by the border of the Oldfield Hall Estate. About 1917 the land was redeemed and saved from development by Sir John Leigh after the house and grounds lay empty for some years. Sir John Leigh purchased the land from the Countess of Stamford and gifted it as a park to Altrincham District Council for the people of Altrincham. The park continues to be actively used and appreciated by the local community. https://johnleighpark.org.uk/history.html

Archaeological Interest

Extant ice house at the northern edge of John Leigh Park. Possibly belonging to Oldfield Hall [HER 7685.1.0], an 18th-century hall (1)(2)(3). Shown on Swire & Hutchings 1829 map (4). [NB – Oldfield Hall is marked on (4), but the ice house is not apparent.] Lodge house situated at north entrance [see HER 7685.2.0]. No obvious remains of ice house unless located to the rear of the lodge (AM 1994). Fieldwork by South Trafford Archaeological Group (STAG) in 2009 and 2010 included a survey of a mound at the southern end of John Leigh Park. The mound had previously been the site of an ornamental summer house known as 'The Temple'. Local tradition asserted that beneath 'The Temple' lay an ice house, and the STAG survey located the top of a brick arch in the western flank of the mound that could have been the entrance to such a structure. British ice houses were commonly brick-lined, domed structures, with most of their volume underground. The precise design varied depending upon the date and resources of the builder, but most C18 and C19 private examples were conical or rounded at the bottom to hold melted ice. From here a drain took away the water. At John Leigh Park, small-scale excavation was undertaken early in 2018. Archaeological stripping and planning of the top of the mound revealed a circular brick wall (handmade) roughly 4m across. This appeared to be the base of the dome for the ice house. In the northern flank of the mound a single test pit was dug in front of the arch. This revealed that the feature was a blocked entranceway leading into a 4.1m long brick-lined tunnel. At the far end could be seen the arched entrance into the main ice storage area. Partially filled with rubble, it was not safe to enter, but photographs revealed writing on the eastern wall, in white paint, with letters and date: ‘opened 29/?/1960’. The stored ice probably came from a feature known as ‘The Dip’, in the middle of the park. This was shown as a pond on the 1852 Altrincham Local Health Board map. Research by the Friends of John Legh Park has so far not located any reference to the ice house. However, the excavations and survey revealed handmade bricks of the early 19th century, whilst the form of the ice house, with a tunnel leading to a domed central vault, may also suggest an early 19th century date. (5)" Full details and findings of the archaeological dig can be found here: https://johnleighpark.org.uk/ice-house-excavation.html

Landmark Status

This icehouse should be considered unique and preserved for future generations in order for them to learn and appreciate the history of the land which it occupies and the history of the local area.

16 Mar 2023

29 Dec 2021