Calke Abbey Ice House

Today's the day ....................... to freeze

I've never been able to understand how the ice houses  of our large country mansions would ever work - but obviously they did.

This is the one at Calke Abbey, near Derby - the large Stately Home of the Harpur Crewe family.  I spent a fascinating day there today exploring the house and the garden.  The Ice House is quite a large brick-lined tunnel built into the hillside in 1820 just above the lake.  Estate workers would take ice that formed during the winter months and pack it tightly in layers separated with straw.  The ice would stay frozen for many months and would provide the big house with a constant supply to keep drinks and food cool.

Anyone know how that works without having to plug something in to an electric socket .....................?