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Mortonhall Ice House

Edinburgh, Mortonhall, NW of Manor House, City of Edinburgh.

18th century Ice House. Circular domed chamber. Earth mound 50 m diameter 5-6 m high contains approx. 30 m of passage looped around 3 m diameter central chamber. Entrance to the Icehouse now in a timber fenced enclosure within the grounds of Mortonhall House.

C Listed. Late 18th century icehouse, doorway with ashlar surround leading to circular domed chamber apparently via 3 stone corridors with earth floors and slab roof. Brick-lined chamber originally lit by vents in dome, now obscured. Earth mounded over; sited in pasture to W of house.

Alternative Names: Mortonhall Icehouse

Notes: Ice for the Ice House (and the Trotter family of Mortonhall Mansion House) was provided from 'the Elf' an ancient pond on the tenant farm of Buckstane (now Mortonhall Golf Course). The pond now at the second hole of the golf course was formerly used as a curling pond.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None