A construction designed for the long-term storage of ice, usually constructed under floor or closely insulated, offered an important useful resource earlier than the arrival of recent refrigeration. These constructions, generally easy pits and at different instances elaborate buildings, allowed for the preservation of ice harvested throughout winter months to be used all through the hotter seasons.
The existence of those amenities was pivotal in varied industries and home settings. They enabled the preservation of meals, facilitated medical procedures, and supplied a method to chill drinks. Traditionally, they represented a big funding, usually reflecting the standing and sources of the proprietor or group.