Building record 0524401000 - TEMPLE OF THE FOUR WINDS
Summary
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building ()
Map
Type and Period (1)
- ICEHOUSE (18th Century - 1700 AD? to 1799 AD)
Description
Dimensions - Radius 180cm.
The ice house survives in good condition under the temple. The superstructure, comprising a flint wall and small stone cupola was obviously built at the same time as the ice house, with the round tower on top of the mound being added later. The ice house is approached from the W side of the flint building via a tunnel with dog-leg bend (B2).
Brick well & dome. Bottom not accessible or visible. Archiect/builder possibly Sir Francis Dashwood or fellow member of the Dilettanti Society. Full description, plan and section (B3).
The remains of a former icehouse lie beneath an earth mound under the Temple of the Winds in West Wycombe Park. It pre-dates the temple which was built between 1755-59. A flint screen of arches and obelisks is attributed to Donowell as it closely resembles a drawing in his hand entitled 'Temple of Winter at the Bottom' and provides an entrance to the icehouse via a lozenge-shaped doorway. The icehouse itself comprises a red brick-lined room with shallow vault (B6).
Sources (7)
- <1>SBC7948 Article in serial: 1975. LOCKE G 1975 ICE HOUSES IN NATIONALTRUST 24 P20 (COPY FILED).
- <2>SBC12139 Verbal communication: Andrew Pike (BCM). 1983. PERS COMM, JULY 1983, FOLLOWING FIELD VISIT.
- <3>SBC14977 Unpublished document: Brenda Easterbrook. 1983. SURVEY BY MRS B EASTERBROOK, 1983 (COPY FILED).
- <4>SBC3604 Bibliographic reference: DoE. 1973. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Buckinghamshire: Wycombe District: Borough of High Wycombe.
- <5>SBC19995 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part 1: Site History and Introduction. 1.
- <6>SBC19996 Unpublished document: English Heritage. 2001. West Wycombe Park Buckinghamshire - Part II: The Earthwork Surveys. 2.
- <7>SBC19998 Graphic material: English Heritage. 2000. West Wycombe Park: detailed plans of Pleasure Grounds, Wider Parkland and Church Hill. 1:2500. Fig 12.
Location
| Grid reference | SU 83189 94175 (point) |
|---|---|
| Civil Parish | HIGH WYCOMBE, Wycombe, Buckinghamshire |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (3)
- Event - Survey: Detailed topographic survey and background research: West Wycombe Park Survey (Ref: 1346157) (EBC16386)
- Event - Survey: Ice-house survey, Temple of the Four Winds (EBC18928)
- Event - Survey: Site visit, West Wycombe Park (EBC18927)
Record last edited
Apr 8 2026 2:52PM
