Report - Anyone? Tangle wood, Redgrave (Norfolk) possible ice house? 25/10/15

[Killerkelly03]

Hi all,
Today whilst out dog walking with my sister in sunny(!!!) Norfolk, I came across this.
To me it looks like an ice house structure similar to one I've seen at Lydiard Park in Swindon - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Locati...8-Lydiard_Park-Swindon_Wiltshire_England.html

I could be wrong, might be a giant kiln or something - am struggling to find anything on the site as I'm not sure what it is, but was great to stick my head in
Can anyone shed any light on this?
Is in the middle of a wood named locally as "Tangle Wood" which is in Redgrave, near Diss.
Thanks for reading, enjoy the pics!

 

[Speed]

Looks very much like an ice house. Maybe there was a large house nearby? Maybe since demolished?? Worth having a rake in the bottom there and see if there's anything interesting been dumped over the years.

 

[Killerkelly03]

I did consider it but wasn't sure on how deep it went or how sturdy the floor was, is pitch black inside too!
Hopefully by posting it up it will take someone's interest and someone braver than me will go and explore further ;-) I'm guessing the house must've been demolished or is quite a walk away...
Glad I'm not the only one thinking ice house!

 

[Alley]

Is this it? http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-437959-ice-house-redgrave-suffolk

 

[Killerkelly03]

Yes!!! There we go, brilliant! Thanks !!!

 

[dweeb]

Aye certainly an ice house. There is a good preserved one at Avoncroft museum if your ever in the area and want to see one without the crap at the bottom

Apparently it was fashionable to serve sorbet, crushed frozen fruit and of course chilled drinks in the 1700's. Amazingly these little things would keep ice solid up until late spring!

 

[Killerkelly03]

Wow! Had no idea they went so deep. Thanks for the extra info !

 

[Nickindroy]

Nice find. Is it this, top middle?

 

[Killerkelly03]

That definitely looks like the place yup! My mums garden backs onto the field by these woods, she'd mentioned seeing something up there and I was out the door like a shot, she's never seen me so keen to walk her yappy little ankle biters
Obviously I took my hound along too.... Be rude not to :-)

 

[BoroLad]

Nice find

 

[AndyWa]

Do you have the source and date for the map above please? I have been trying to research these woods and it would help. I believe that the ice house belonged to Redgrave Hall. shown on the map with its outbuildings but pulled down in 1946 after it had been used as a US Military hospital during the Second World War, see Redgrave Park | American Air Museum in Britain and https://repatriatedlandscape.org/en...gland/pow-camp-231-redgrave-park-pw-hospital/

 

[tallginge]

This website might help

Map Finder - with Outlines - National Library of Scotland

maps.nls.uk

There's another ice house by Drinkstone Lake (about 18 mile away) if you or anyone else is interested. Nothing special. Similar to the one above but without the ladders

 

[AndyWa]

Many thanks for the info. That is very helpful.