Ice House at Magheramorne House

The Department's description

Exterior description and setting

A domestic ice house of rectangular and circular form, constructed mainly of brick, comprising a vaulted passage leading to a domical end chamber. Main entrance faces west; basalt and limestone rubble exterior walls to short passageway built into slope of hill, with humped profile to exterior covering of earth, rubble, and vegetation; brick dressings to open entrance doorway, in derelict condition.

Setting: the structure is situated in a copse of mature trees a short distance from the main road, within sight of it, but difficult to distinguish due to the overgrowth of vegetation.

Historical information

Appears on the OS map of 1832 where it is named as an Ice House; also so marked on map of 1857 but not labelled on 1921 map and not shown at all on the 1985 map. Built as a domestic ice house for Ballylig House, which was built in 1817 by a Mr Farrell and was a predecessor of the present Magheramorne House.

References - Primary Sources

1. OS Map 1832, Co Antrim 41.
2. Ordnance Survey Memoirs of Ireland, Vol 26: Parishes of Co Antrim X, (Belfast, 1994), pp 5, 13 and 14 [
references to building of Ballylig House].

Criteria for listing: architectural interest

B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
E. Spatial Organisation
F. Structural System
H-. Alterations detracting from building
J. Setting

Criteria for listing: historic interest

X. Local Interest

Evaluation

This is an example of a well proportioned ice house of distinct plan form and spatial arrangement, displaying impressive structural form inside, despite the loss of some minor elements. It stands in a pleasant setting and is of considerable local interest as a part of the 19th century development of the Magheramorne estate.