Ravensworth, icehouse

The icehouse lies to the north of the North Tower. It is almost certainly contemporary with the tower's brick lined cellar. Externally it comprises a rectangular earth mound orientated east to west and measuring 5m x 12m. It abuts the north wall of the tower. The structure is entered via a stone-lined L-shaped passageway. At the end of the passageway there are fittings for two sets of rectangular doors. This second doorway leads into a brick-lined chamber below ground level. The double doors would have kept the room as cold as possible. Access into the chamber is via a set of steep wooden stairs. The brick-lined barrel vaulted chamber is 3-4m deep with a small square delivery hatch in the east wall. Below the hatch is a ramp made from two angled timbers which have been recently used to drop masonry blocks into the interior. The timbers are not original.