But if there were no freezers, where did the ice come from? Am i being thick here?
2006-10-26 04:01:41 · 8 answers · asked by daftoldwoman 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Other - Food & Drink
No - used ice - the climate was colder then - in the 17th century the thames regularly froze over for example - and ice would be dug up and put into ice houses - where even in a not freezing, but cold climate, it would last quite well, and reduce the ambient temperature of whatever you put in it. Obviously it wouldn't work in teh summer - but the victorians were known to import ice from the north.
2006-10-26 04:05:03 · answer #1 · answered by Miss Behavin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ice you refer to was ice formed during the winter and kept frozen by being placed in an ice house. An ice seller would come around and sell you ice. This you would put into your own ice house (usually the rich had these not the poor) and then you would store your food in there too. Some Victorian Ice houses still exist and are domed shaped like an igloo, some are underground. Though they still exist they are not used.
Talking of preserving food, the tin (so called because it was originally made from tin now made from either aluminium or steel) can was invented many years before the can opener! The first frozen food was peas!
2006-10-26 04:13:17 · answer #2 · answered by tunisianboy46 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you are being thick. You don't need a freezer for a white Christmas... On Country estates there would be an ice cave where food could be stored because there was always a very low temperature. Fishermen in icy waters would put the fish in the hold with ice to keep it fresh until the return to shore.
2006-10-26 04:25:25 · answer #3 · answered by phatehull 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They used to bring ice over in huge blocks on ships and then keep them in ice houses. They were usually large buildings made of brick in the shape of an igloo and didn't have any windows.
2006-10-26 04:13:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
We have an old icehouse on our land, its about 10 feet square and half underground. The inside is lined with limestone blocks and the roof is large stone slabs, its covered in soil and turf to made a mound.
Its half full of water at the moment !
2006-10-26 04:46:35 · answer #5 · answered by Michael H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They also used salt. Do a search to learn what the phrase "scraping the bottom of the barrel" means. Neato info.
2006-10-26 04:08:32 · answer #6 · answered by mickeyg1958 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I lived on a farm with no electricity. We had a cold room - heavily insulated with straw, I seem to remember.
2006-10-26 04:12:15 · answer #7 · answered by True Blue Brit 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you are !
2006-10-26 04:06:33 · answer #8 · answered by tez 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋