Ice House

Ice House, Bank Hill, Berwick upon Tweed

An ice house of circa 1796 constructed for the fishing industry.

This ice house is built into the hillside with earth acting as an insulating layer. It is constructed of sandstone and brick. The structure is entered via a path to the south-east of Bank Hill, with the entrance tunnel leading north-east.

Tapered retaining walls of coursed sandstone with ashlar copings flank the wide approach to the entrance arch, which features large voussoirs. A modern iron gate has been inserted at the entrance.

The entrance tunnel has a barrel-vaulted sandstone roof and sandstone rubble walls, leading directly to the main chamber. This chamber measures 11 metres long and 7.4 metres wide, with a barrel-vaulted roof 7.6 metres high. Although the tunnel indicates there were at least two doorways, there is currently no surviving evidence of the placement of further doors, which would have acted as insulating airlocks. However, five simple metal hooks remain on the far end of the tunnel to the right, where bags of straw would have been hung. The floor is understood to be cobbled throughout, although the majority was covered with silt at the time of inspection. There is a doorway on either end of the main chamber near the ceiling, with only shadowing remaining of the staircases that once led to them. Small brick partitions project from the end wall, presumably relating to its later use as a cellar.

In the 18th century, salmon was transported from Berwick either pickled or boiled. However, in 1788 the continental practice of shipping fresh fish in ice was adopted. To maintain stocks of ice throughout the salmon season in late summer, a number of ice houses were constructed within the town. Ice was collected from shallow places on the River Tweed and from specially flooded pools known locally as the 'Stanks' during winter. In particularly mild years, the trade was considered valuable enough to necessitate the importation of ice from Scandinavia and sometimes as far afield as America. Fresh fish brought a much higher price than pickled or salted fish, bringing new riches to Berwick's already wealthy salmon traders.

After ice ceased to be used commercially in the salmon trade, the ice house was linked by new doorways and stairs to the properties standing above it for use as basements. It was designated as an air raid shelter during World War II and was later used for storage. It is currently cared for by the Berwick Preservation Trust.