Description

TL 81 NE GREAT BRAXTED BRAXTED PARK ROAD
BRAXTED PARK

2/58 Cave/Icehouse situated
at north western end of
The Lake

GV II*

Cave/Icehouse. C18/C19. Red brick with some stone. Probably for the Du Cane
family. An unusual structure, the arched cave entrance faces onto the lake.
Arrow head railings to right and left of central gateway. The depth approx. 5
metres, height 3 metres. There is a recess in the left wall at ground level
with a lintel beam over, possibly a fireplace at one time. To the right is a
small entrance tunnel approx. 6 metres long. The rear wall has a small central
window opening and a doorway through which steps lead down into the main ice
house. There is a 4 metres diameter central circular dome with a small moulded
brick top opening. Eight 3 metres high square brick pillars with stone lintels
1 metre apart support the dome and from their stone imposts brick ribs spring to
pilasters on the outer wall, forming an outer vaulted walk way, 11/2 metres wide,
possibly used as a game larder at one time. Between some columns are low walls
with stone coping. Rear right is a low arched entrance tunnel. Rear left, a
low archway leads into a smaller circular domed icehouse. A large tree covered
mound covers the complex surmounted by a circular platform with gault brick
support walls. The platform is stone slabbed, the outer slabs tied with lead
covered iron cleats. 3 moulded stone steps approach the platform above the
Cave. For a wager of £100 made by Peter Du Cane a man lived in the Cave for 1
year without washing or shaving. An unusually large and elaborate icehouse.

Listing NGR: TL8508815647

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17531952

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 1: The City of London: City of London v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Central Leinster: Kildare, Laois and Offaly (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Ireland)
• 
  Dorset (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)