The Sports Pavilion & Icehouse
The latest attempt by Horntye Sport to remove cricket played on grass from Horntye Park is described in HS/OA/23/00802 where the Ice House they own and should care for is described in their documents
" The redevelopment proposal will need to respect and preserve two significant buildings as well as a pair of cottages, 1 and 2 Horntye Park that are set northeast of the Pavilion within the Sports Complex parking area (see photograph). The Sports Pavilion is an imposing building that will face the new residential proposals. Strategic landscape design and layout should enhance the new environment and not overcrowd this building. The provision of the full-size, floodlit 3G pitch will improve the spaciousness around this building. The Grade II listed Icehouse is a somewhat forlorn structure placed on the edge of the car park loose hardstanding and bramble ridden-scrub to the west of Horntye Park. Illustrative proposals within the Masterplan seek to improve the setting of this heritage structure as a public amenity asset, and introduce protection measures, such as the introduction of railings, a gate, and soft landscaping"
" The redevelopment proposal will need to respect and preserve two significant buildings as well as a pair of cottages, 1 and 2 Horntye Park that are set northeast of the Pavilion within the Sports Complex parking area (see photograph). The Sports Pavilion is an imposing building that will face the new residential proposals. Strategic landscape design and layout should enhance the new environment and not overcrowd this building. The provision of the full-size, floodlit 3G pitch will improve the spaciousness around this building. The Grade II listed Icehouse is a somewhat forlorn structure placed on the edge of the car park loose hardstanding and bramble ridden-scrub to the west of Horntye Park. Illustrative proposals within the Masterplan seek to improve the setting of this heritage structure as a public amenity asset, and introduce protection measures, such as the introduction of railings, a gate, and soft landscaping"
The application to remove cricket from Horntye Park and replace the available sport facility for 101 dwellings describes the Bohemia Ice House as :
" The Grade II listed Icehouse is a somewhat forlorn structure placed on the edge of car park loose hardstanding and bramble ridden-scrub to the west of Horntye Park. Illustrative proposals within theMasterplan seek to improve the setting "
Ice House at Bohemia.
This is located at grid reference TQ 806098 and is a Type 1 with a pit into the ground with a high level entrance passage.
It was surveyed in 1972 and in 1984 by Hastings Borough Council Planning Department
It is located 200m from an ice source and just 20m from Bohemia House.
Built of sandstone, the square base is 3.71m x 3.71m and entered by a short tunnel 1.68 m long with a domed roof.
See full details of this structure on the English Heritage Images of England Website.
This relic of the Victorian era was nearly destroyed after the Planners at Hastings Borough Council granted a planning permission that would have caused it to be demolished for a car park. An emergency preservation order was needed to prevent it being destroyed. The pictures below show the ice house before restoration. Below the surface the sandstone structure was in excellent condition after 150 years. An Ice House is not shown on the 1824 maps or mentioned in the 1831 details of sale but is shown on the 1873 O/S Map.
In Hastings the Bohemia Ice House is a fortunate survivor but without the help of Hastings Planners. Planners in Hastings decided to grant planning permission to allow a car park as part of the Horntye Cricket Ground development but failed to check or were not bothered that they had on record plans produced in 1984 by themselves details of a disused ice house where the car park was to be constructed.Drawings No 839 filed by David Dine. Following concerns expressed by the public Hastings Conservation decided to issue a Building Preservation Notice (BPN) served on the Trustees of the Hastings & Central St Leonards Central Cricket & Recreation Ground as owners of a disused ice house within the grounds of Horntye Park where the development of a cricket ground and ancillary facilities were taking place. The BPN was served on the 22nd December 1998. The matters was reported as Item 11 at the Planning & Highways Committee ,Gensing Ward - on 3rd February 1999. A small change to the design of the car park removed the need for any demolition and a few months later in May 1999 the Bohemia Ice House was listed by the DCM&S.
Hastings said that "The survival of the ice house is an unusual feature in this context. The substantial area of the Bohemia House gardens still open to public access lies adjacent to Hastings Museum and could be developed in the future as a part of a local history or education trail. The ice house is the only structure of its kind known to exist in the Borough."
The creation of a Local List of heritage buildings was requested by members of the public when it was realised that being "Listed" was the only way to safeguard structures and buildings of heritage interest. After over ten years of Hastings Borough Council choosing to ignore the issue with several other buildings of local heritage interest disappearing, in 2011 Hastings decided to authorise the compilation of a list of heritage structures but progress remains slow and the leading conservation organisation in Hastings (OHPS) has passed responsibility to other groups who after a year since the decision was made seem to be making slow progress.
Other historic remains on the estate have not been so fortunate and being on a local heritage list might have allowed a little more consideration before demolition. The fives courts a few yards from the ice house were bulldozed to make way for a modern playing area. They could have been retained alongside the all weather pitches if cricket trustees and HBC had any interest. Most recently the South Lodge was demolished.
The Bohemia Walled Garden,is not listed, and work continues to arrest the ravages of time and weather and bring it back into use. As with other structures on the Bohemia estate built on the instructions of Wastel brisco it is likely that local bricklayer John Jinks built the Ice House.
How the school used the Ice House - Venison & Potatoes.
A story in Hastings Observer published in 1972 shortly before the house was demolished offered some details on how the Summerfields School used the Ice House :
"In the midst, of the thick rhododendron bushes, which cluster round the house, there was: a short pathway going into the ground. We followed Mr. Cole with. his torch down into a circular brick building. It was originally used as a cool house to store meat and provisions, ice being delivered through a hatch-way cut in.the,wall." “We used to grow all our own vegetables and I used to keep the potatoes in here. Before that it was used as a cold storage room for meat. One old gardener around here, a Mr Smith who must be 80, remembers them keeping venison in here for the boys”, Mr Cole said. See the complete HSLO story Summerfields School
"In the midst, of the thick rhododendron bushes, which cluster round the house, there was: a short pathway going into the ground. We followed Mr. Cole with. his torch down into a circular brick building. It was originally used as a cool house to store meat and provisions, ice being delivered through a hatch-way cut in.the,wall." “We used to grow all our own vegetables and I used to keep the potatoes in here. Before that it was used as a cold storage room for meat. One old gardener around here, a Mr Smith who must be 80, remembers them keeping venison in here for the boys”, Mr Cole said. See the complete HSLO story Summerfields School
HARRG members excavate and prepare for the restoration.
Members of HAARG excavate the Ice House.
Left: Members of Hastings Archeological Research Group HARRG surveyed the structure,contributed to the costs of restoration and performed the excavation work in order to enable the restoration of the entrance door and tunnel. The report reproduced below was produced by members of HAARG.
THE ICE HOUSE AT SUMMERFIELDS, HASTINGS (TQ80650985)
David Padgham and Mike Greenhaigh
Introduction: This listed building is one of the few surviving features of the former Summerfields estate built up by Waste! Brisco in the 1830s, and is now the responsibility of the trustees of Horntye Park Sports Complex. Late in 2001 HAARG was approached by the Secretary to the trustees, Mr. Roger Dennett, for assistance in preparing the building for conservation work. The upper entrance had been filled in some years ago by contractors for safety reasons, and the mound was covered by vegetation including small trees. At a site meeting it was agreed by Mr. Jim Corrigan, Planning Officer, that English Heritage consent was not required..as only repairs and not alterations were involved, approval for which was delegated to his department. Horntye groundsmen would clear vegetation and provide temporary safety fencing. HAARG undertook to clear deposited soil and rubble to expose and record the collapsed entrance tunnel, and to provide a specification for conservation^work. Historical background was supplied by Cllr. Bob Hart who had been campaigning for some years for the feature to be
protected
Excavation and recording was carried out on 4 and 5 March 2002, by members of HAARG assisted by Jim Corrigan, Bob Hart, and Head Groundsman John Watson, encouraged by a number of bystanders (Fig:1, below).
The purpose was to re-expose whatever remained of the former entrance passage, and a sample area of the domed top of the chamber, to enable architect's drawings to be prepared as a basis for conservation work tenders. Drawings were already available dated 1972 which recorded the complete structure prior to a period of neglect and vandalism.
Soil and rubble fill was cleared from the entrance passage to expose its inside wails and floor, and the blocks which had been placed to seal the pit entrance (Fig.2). It was found that the original entrance passage had been constructed on a bed of irregular sandstone slabs, sloping down slightly towards the doorway of the chamber (see sketch plan, Fig.3). Walls had been built, the outer sides battered upwards, faced inside and out with roughly dressed and coursed local sandstone with the cavity filled by stone rubble. These walls only survived to an average height of about 1 metre, some of which was insecure; the 1972 drawings showed that the passage had originally been about 1.5 metres high, roofed with masonry, presumably supported by either timber or further stone slabs. There were signs that a fire had been lit in the passageway, burning the floor stones and flaking the masonry at right. The passage walls were fronted by brick piers which survived to a height of 9 or 10 courses and contained rebates apparently to receive a door, though there was no trace of any door frame or fixings. The front elevation was completed in masonry. At the entrance a brick sill had been laid above the slabs, with cement rendering angled down behind it; there were traces of cement rendering also on the interior brickwork and masonry. The mortar used in construction was hard and gritty.
The ice chamber itself was not recorded again as the interior appeared not to have deteriorated since the 1972 drawings. Some doubt was expressed as to whether the lower entrance on the opposite side was an original feature, as ice would normally have filled the chamber and been removed via the upper entrance passage. The exterior dome was covered by cement rendering which had broken away, exposing the brickwork; at one point a patch of modern rendering was inscribed with graffiti including the surname POTTER within a zigzag border. The upper entrance had been sealed by two sloping concrete blocks surmounted by breeze-blocks, and a concrete lintel at the top. The breeze-blocks were breached to give ladder access to the interior.
New architect's drawings were prepared by John Shirlaw summarising the surviving detail and of the proposed conservation work, to which a specification was attached and presented to the Trustees. We understand the work is currently awaiting funding. The only finds were broken pieces of 19-20C glass and pottery in the rubble fill of the passage. A full record of the excavation is retained in HAARG archives.
Reproduced from
HAARG Journal
Winter 2002
THE ICE HOUSE AT SUMMERFIELDS, HASTINGS (TQ80650985)
David Padgham and Mike Greenhaigh
Introduction: This listed building is one of the few surviving features of the former Summerfields estate built up by Waste! Brisco in the 1830s, and is now the responsibility of the trustees of Horntye Park Sports Complex. Late in 2001 HAARG was approached by the Secretary to the trustees, Mr. Roger Dennett, for assistance in preparing the building for conservation work. The upper entrance had been filled in some years ago by contractors for safety reasons, and the mound was covered by vegetation including small trees. At a site meeting it was agreed by Mr. Jim Corrigan, Planning Officer, that English Heritage consent was not required..as only repairs and not alterations were involved, approval for which was delegated to his department. Horntye groundsmen would clear vegetation and provide temporary safety fencing. HAARG undertook to clear deposited soil and rubble to expose and record the collapsed entrance tunnel, and to provide a specification for conservation^work. Historical background was supplied by Cllr. Bob Hart who had been campaigning for some years for the feature to be
protected
Excavation and recording was carried out on 4 and 5 March 2002, by members of HAARG assisted by Jim Corrigan, Bob Hart, and Head Groundsman John Watson, encouraged by a number of bystanders (Fig:1, below).
The purpose was to re-expose whatever remained of the former entrance passage, and a sample area of the domed top of the chamber, to enable architect's drawings to be prepared as a basis for conservation work tenders. Drawings were already available dated 1972 which recorded the complete structure prior to a period of neglect and vandalism.
Soil and rubble fill was cleared from the entrance passage to expose its inside wails and floor, and the blocks which had been placed to seal the pit entrance (Fig.2). It was found that the original entrance passage had been constructed on a bed of irregular sandstone slabs, sloping down slightly towards the doorway of the chamber (see sketch plan, Fig.3). Walls had been built, the outer sides battered upwards, faced inside and out with roughly dressed and coursed local sandstone with the cavity filled by stone rubble. These walls only survived to an average height of about 1 metre, some of which was insecure; the 1972 drawings showed that the passage had originally been about 1.5 metres high, roofed with masonry, presumably supported by either timber or further stone slabs. There were signs that a fire had been lit in the passageway, burning the floor stones and flaking the masonry at right. The passage walls were fronted by brick piers which survived to a height of 9 or 10 courses and contained rebates apparently to receive a door, though there was no trace of any door frame or fixings. The front elevation was completed in masonry. At the entrance a brick sill had been laid above the slabs, with cement rendering angled down behind it; there were traces of cement rendering also on the interior brickwork and masonry. The mortar used in construction was hard and gritty.
The ice chamber itself was not recorded again as the interior appeared not to have deteriorated since the 1972 drawings. Some doubt was expressed as to whether the lower entrance on the opposite side was an original feature, as ice would normally have filled the chamber and been removed via the upper entrance passage. The exterior dome was covered by cement rendering which had broken away, exposing the brickwork; at one point a patch of modern rendering was inscribed with graffiti including the surname POTTER within a zigzag border. The upper entrance had been sealed by two sloping concrete blocks surmounted by breeze-blocks, and a concrete lintel at the top. The breeze-blocks were breached to give ladder access to the interior.
New architect's drawings were prepared by John Shirlaw summarising the surviving detail and of the proposed conservation work, to which a specification was attached and presented to the Trustees. We understand the work is currently awaiting funding. The only finds were broken pieces of 19-20C glass and pottery in the rubble fill of the passage. A full record of the excavation is retained in HAARG archives.
Reproduced from
HAARG Journal
Winter 2002
.
The Ice House at Bohemia
The Ice House - Restored
The Ice House still exists and can be found on the bank behind the fire station, in the new Horntye Park car park at TQ 80640995. The late Mr J M Baines one time museum curator described the Summerfields Ice House as a "single bee-hive shaped room dug into the ground, and completely hidden except for its domed roof. It would have been packed with ice during the winter and served as a refrigerator for food". Baines went on to say that "such houses are extremely rare and this house has been preserved in good order".
An ice house is generally comprised of a deep brick lined well surmounted by a domed or sometimes pyramidal roof. An entrance passage sometimes with a curve would be fitted with two doors to prevent the ingress of heat. The ice would be cut in the winter from shallow ponds and stacked on a bed of straw and also covered in straw. A drain would be provided in the bottom of the ice house in order to drain off the melt water. The building would often be built into a bank and covered with earth in order to insulate it thermally. The general assumption is that such buildings would be used for the preservation of meat and fish: however this was not the case; ice was used to make the ice creams, chilled drinks, syllabubs and so on consumed during the summer months and the ability to provide these exotic luxuries would raise the owner's social status. The development of compressor driven refrigeration in the latter part of the 19th century rang the death knell for these structures.
In 1972 all of the upper entrance was visible (top left on above section). The roof to the entrance was subsequently destroyed because it was mistaken for an air-raid shelter. They just were not interested. There seems to have been no mention of the subterranean relic within the planning consent given for the development of the sports pavilion. Car parking for Horntye Cricket Ground is proposed to be constructed very near to the site of the ice house. An enquiry with the Hastings Planning Office revealed that the structure was not listed and not afforded any protection in law. Listing was finally achieved in May 1999 (see below) after HBC agreed to issue an emergency preservation order to prevent destruction.
SCHEDULE
The following structure shall be added to the list;
TQ 8009 BOHEMIA ROAD Hontye Park
22/10032 The Ice House
Ice house. Early Cl9, thought to have been part of Wastel Brisco's improvements to the Bohemia Estate following his purchase of the house and grounds in 1831, but first shown on the Ordnance Survey Map of 1873. Built of coursed local stone with dome covered in cement render and having remains of brick and stone to collapsed entrance tunnel. Consists of a semi -subterranean single beehive-shaped chamber measuring 3.7m. Square on plan and 5.5 m. in height built into a north facing bank. The main entrance on the south-west side was by a short tunnel, now demolished, which arrived in the chamber at mid level At low level, when last inspected, the outline of a door could be seen though it was not known where it emerged. The floor of the chamber contained a drain outlet. At the time of inspection the site was overgrown and only the top of the dome and parts of the entrance tunnel were visible. The ice house was adjacent to a courtyard fronting Bohemia House. Bohemia House was demolished c1972. At time of inspection this was the only known ice house in the Borough of Hastings. A survey drawing of the Ice house, Ref. No. 839 was produced in 1984 by the then Planners Department of Hastings Council.
Signed by authority of the Secretarv of State
Dated; 25th May 1999
T A ELLINGFORD
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The restoration was supported by The Horntye Park Directors, Hastings Area Archaeological Research Group HAARG Old Hastings Preservation Society OHPS and Hastings Borough Council
Bohemia Ice House - Information Leaflet
Click on the thumbnail image for a larger view.
Time Line for Ice House
1850s Built in 19th Century possibly by Jinks
1983 Record by RG Martin & Sylvia Bearmon
1984 Record produced by David Dine of HBC Ref 839
1996 Planning Application 96/00034 Horntye Car Park
1998 December Emergency Preservation Order by Conservation Officer Jim Corrigon
1999 May Ice house listed by DCM&S
2002 March excavated by HAARG & surveyed by John Shirlaw of HAARG
2002 Restored in partnership HBC +OHPS + HAARG cost £5000
1850s Built in 19th Century possibly by Jinks
1983 Record by RG Martin & Sylvia Bearmon
1984 Record produced by David Dine of HBC Ref 839
1996 Planning Application 96/00034 Horntye Car Park
1998 December Emergency Preservation Order by Conservation Officer Jim Corrigon
1999 May Ice house listed by DCM&S
2002 March excavated by HAARG & surveyed by John Shirlaw of HAARG
2002 Restored in partnership HBC +OHPS + HAARG cost £5000
http___www.ukplanning.com_ukp_doc_drawing-5812011.pdf_extension.pdf | |
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http___www.ukplanning.com_ukp_doc_drawing-7785211.pdf_extension.pdf | |
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Pre Application Consultation HS/OA/21/00845 - As a part of the proposed development of Horntye
6.11 A pre-application consultation advised that the Ice House should sit within a wider enhanced landscaped setting. The proposed site plan (Fig. 2) allows for a wider landscaped area to the west of the Ice House, and the pre-application consultation suggests that omitting two parking spaces to the immediate south of the Ice House should also be considered. If this space were defined with a native hedgerow perimeter and planted with mixed woodland this would not only somewhat restore the historic woodland setting of the Ice House, but also provide screening from the modern developments of the Site and neighbouring Turner House, thus minimising the impact of the proposed development upon the setting of the Ice House. The earth mound and area immediately in front of the entrance should, however, remain free from shrubs and trees in order to protect the structure below from root damage and provide pedestrian access/an open area from which to view the building.
6.12 The Ice House, as an isolated structure, may be vulnerable to vandalism. In order to discourage vandalism and promote the significance of the Ice House an information board outlining the history and importance of the building could be placed within the enhanced landscaped area.
Chris Butler Archaeological Services Limited August 2021