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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 54 SE 23
Type of record:Monument
Name:Icehouse, Bay Tree Cottage, Culverden Road, Tunbridge Wells

Summary

A well-preserved subterranean icehouse near the White House, Culverden Down. Significant parts of the icehouse remain including an access passage, sandstone rubble retaining walls and a brick dome with a central opening. The icehouse was cut into the sandstone bedrock and was thought to belong to the 'White House' (formerly Culverden Lodge). May have been primarily built to serve a large house on the site of the present hospital.


Grid Reference:TQ 575 403
Map Sheet:TQ54SE
Parish:ROYAL TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, KENT

Monument Types

  • ICEHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1606 AD? to 1900 AD? (at some time))

Full description

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Totally subterranean, this well-preserved icehouse has an access passage cut into the bank flanked by sandstone rubble retaingitn walls. Elliptical in plan and half elliptical on the long section.Brick dome built form bedrock strata. Natural drainage, asd the bottom is carved out of the sandstone bedrock. Pink-red brick (18th-19th C?) is bonded with lime mortar. Circular opening in center of the dome. Belonged to the 'White House' (once the Culverden Lodge) and may have been primarily built to serve a large house on the site of the present hospital.(1)


<1> Roaf, S. & Beamon, S. P., 1990, The Ice Houses of Britain, Beamon and Roaf, 'The Ice Houses of Britain,' 1990. (Monograph). SKE8293.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Monograph: Roaf, S. & Beamon, S. P.. 1990. The Ice Houses of Britain. Beamon and Roaf, 'The Ice Houses of Britain,' 1990..