There's a once-in-a-year opportunity to visit the Victorian ice wells at London Canal Museum this July — as part of a dedicated 'Ice Weekend'.
Before the days of electric refrigeration, fresh-cut ice was vital in everything from making ice cream, to relieving inflammation. Mammoth blocks of the stuff were transported by ship from Norway, then onward by horse-drawn canal barge — in this case to King's Cross. (Wouldn't it melt? is the obvious question, the answer being: only a quarter of it.)
When the ice blocks reached the King's Cross warehouse — then owned by ice merchant and ice cream pioneer Carlo Gatti, now the London Canal Museum — they were lowered into one of these 42-feet-deep brick-lined ice wells, which would help keep them solid for months at a time.
On Sunday 21 July 2024, the London Canal Museum opens up the ice wells to the public; you'll descend into the beautifully-illuminated spaces to learn more about how they worked, and what the ice would've eventually been used for (there's a small extra fee on top of museum entry for this experience). The ice well tours are always popular, and you'll need to book your slot in advance.
That's just part of a veritable blizzard of ice-related activities over 20-21 July as part of the museum's 'Ice Weekend'. On both the Saturday and Sunday, you can partake in a family-friendly ice trail; see (and taste) ice cream made using Mrs Marshall's Victorian ice cream maker; and tune into various history talks/tours of the museum building. Short narrowboat trips setting off from the museum are available for an extra fee on both days too.
All in all, it sounds like a cool way to spend a weekend. 🧊
Ice Weekend at London Canal Museum, King's Cross, 20-21 July 2024
