Ice house, Lissan House Demesne, Drumgrass Road, Cookstown, BT80 9SW

This is an ice house, likely constructed between 1780 and 1799 as part of the late 18th century improvements to the Lissan House estate. It’s a significant early example of an ice house and an important feature of the country house estate. The ice house is built of handmade brickwork and takes the characteristic ovoid form, with a hemispherical, brick-vaulted dome over a circular plan. It is largely buried and covered in earth and vegetation, accessed via a short, brick-vaulted passage. The entrance, facing north, features a semi-circular brick arch leading to a brick vault. This vault contains a rectangular opening, and to the left of that opening is a further rectangular recessed opening with a timber lintel, whose purpose is currently unknown. A segmental arched opening in the rear wall leads to the egg-shaped, brick-lined interior, which has a domical roof over a tapering subterranean chamber. The ice house is located within the demesne of Lissan House, a short distance north of the upper yard, presently situated within an overgrown field marked by a young tree. It was built to store ice for use in the main house during the summer months. Ordnance Survey maps from 1833 do not show the structure, while the 1854 map depicts it clearly.