Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Ice House of Middleton Hall
Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire, Wales
A Grade II listed building in Middleton, Carmarthen, Llanarthney, Carmarthenshire, designated on 19 May 1999.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 19 May 1999
- Locality
- Middleton
- Town
- Carmarthen
- Community
- Llanarthney
- Unitary authority
- Carmarthenshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.84161, -4.15268
- Cadw reference
- 21754
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1860 · 41. Caermathen. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
50m south-west of the corner gates of the walled garden of the former Middleton Hall.
History
Late C18- or early-C19 ice-house, which first appears in the sale particulars of 1824. It is likely to have been constructed at the same time as, or shortly after, Middleton Hall, which was completed in 1795. Ice was probably gathered from Pwll yr Ardd, a pond shown on early maps about 200m distant. The ice-house is set well back from the pond edge, to be high enough above it for drainage.
The ice house was restored by Dyfed County Council in 1987. It is now in the care of the National Botanic Garden and being prepared as a bat colony habitat.
Exterior
Two low stonework wing walls, slightly converging, lead to the brickwork tunnel entrance. There is no noticeable mound, as the ice-house has been excavated into a pre-existing bank.
Interior
A brickwork-lined and domed chamber of about 3m diameter, extending 3m below entrance level. The top of the dome is a stone of about 0.5m diameter. At the bottom there is a sump and soakaway to drain melt-water away from the ice. The entrance passage to the right side of the chamber is about 3m long, formed in brickwork, and originally incorporated three doors, of which only slots in the walls for the frames remain. There is a modern security grille at the inner access position.
Reason for designation
A particularly well preserved example of this building type.
Nearby in the register
- Rear stable block of Middleton HallDomesticunder 1 mi
- Stable Block of Middleton HallDomesticunder 1 mi
- Service Yard and Gateway of Middleton HallDomesticunder 1 mi
- BrynhawddgarDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.