Regents Crescent (Ice House)

Project Overview

Regents Crescent is London’s only Grade I* listed building that has been completely redeveloped.  In collaboration with Westminster City Council, The Crown Estate and Historic England, Stonewest were entrusted to restore the Crescent to its former glory, complete with 200m long iconic stucco render façade.

Whilst rebuilding the William Nash stucco façade, a large Georgian ice house that ran through the middle of the site was discovered.  The commercial storage chamber was one of the first of its kind and used to store that had been imported from Holland by Thames barges.  The ice was then sold to the public as, what is now known as, sorbet.  Over time, rubble had filled the ice house. Stonewest were therefore commissioned to restore the structure (a Scheduled Ancient Monument) and preserve for the future with the provision of access via a restored entrance passage.

Key Successes

• Consultation with Heritage Consultants to discharge planning conditions.
• Preliminary site investigation undertaken. Mortar samples were taken for off-site analysis at every stage of the excavation process in order that they could be matched like-for-like during the repairs.
• Rubble carefully removed by hand and the structure monitored for movement before progressing deeper.
• Areas of exterior brickwork dismantled and rebuilt. Interior brick repairs to domed roof from timber framework were undertaken.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-46760121 ‘Inside London’s Lost Ice House’ @BBCNEWS