Former Ice Works

An ice works of 1907 constructed within an earlier building by R Richard Bath and possibly including a quay wall, with later adaptations.

MATERIALS: rubble granite of different phases with dressed granite quoins and window heads, and slate cills. There are red brick additions to the south. The roofs are covered in slate.

PLAN: the main granite structure is rectangular on plan and of three storeys with a double pitched roof of raised height at the south-west corner. The brick additions to the south are irregular on plan and stand across a variety of heights up to three storeys.

EXTERIOR: the road front to the Strand is two broad bays wide under twin gables with irregularly-spaced window openings across the elevation. To the left, large granite blocks of the former quay wall have had a door inserted and the wall has been incorporated into the 1907 brick additions that extend across the south elevation of the building along the former quay edge. The brick additions have varied openings including two double doors under segmental brick arches, and some parts were raised in height and otherwise altered in the 1970s. The north flank and west end elevations have fewer openings with a double width door on the ground floor (east end of the north flank) and window openings to the third floor. The roofs have ventilators and finials at the gable apexes.

INTERIOR: not inspected, however photographs of 2013 show extant Linde ice production machinery of 1907 date. This includes a steam powered compressor on the ground floor, which was later converted to electricity. Other equipment still in place includes hoists; winch gear; a crusher; refrigeration tanks; and timber chutes. An extensive network of hoses supplied the water to the top of the building and the ‘drops’ used in the ice-making process. There is also flake ice making machinery of 1980s date.