Latest News
Construction Works Begin for the Grade II Listed The Ice House
The Ice House receives £2 million in funding from NLHF
The Ice House – A Poem by Jason Parr
About The Ice House
A Grade II listed building of brick construction with a thatched roof the Great Yarmouth Ice House, once one of a pair, is now the only one of its kind left in the country. We have a vision to transform it into a National Centre for Outdoor Arts and Circus.
The building will be repurposed into an arts and circus training hub, with opportunities for performances and a bar. A Grade II listed building and reminder of Great Yarmouth’s once-thriving fishing industry, this imaginative and creative use of the building will further develop the town’s reputation as the capital of circus in the UK as well as further link the town’s fishing and circus heritage.
Completing the development of The Ice House as a National Centre for Outdoor Arts and Circus will be a very significant and valuable step towards the realisation of a vision for Great Yarmouth being recognised as the UK Capital for Circus and Outdoor Arts with support from the Architectural Heritage Fund and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. With the recent awards in funding, the project can begin its development and more investment will be raised to expand and realise the project in full over the next few years.
Subscribe to our newsletter below to be the first to know of our upcoming activities surrounding The Ice House.
The History
The historic building, located at the Southtown end of Haven bridge, built between 1851 and 1892 was originally a key asset in the town’s fishing industry.
In the mid 19th century the landmark Ice House was at the forefront of an industrial revolution that would see the town’s fortunes soar. It was built at the same time as Southtown railway station, meaning freshly caught fish could be packed using the ice stored in the building and transported to London’s Billingsgate fish market, reaching a whole new consumer base. With a capacity for over 42,500 cubic metres, packed ice could stay frozen for months ensuring a steady supply of fresh herring to the capital and beyond. However, advances in modern technologies saw it overtaken and overlooked, serving for a time as a grain store for JH Bunn who also renovated it in 1980.
Watch the Documentary
The full documentary on The Ice House – a historic Grade II listed building located on Great Yarmouth, Norfolk’s historic quay. The Ice House redevelopment project seeks to develop the building into a national centre for outdoor arts and circus with plans to open in 2025. Supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Share your Stories
Contact us
Fun Facts!
Fish Fingers!
The coat of arms origially just had fish on it, to symbolise its prosperous fishing industry. Edward III allowed lions (a royal symbol) to be added in thanks for the help Great Yarmouth fishermen had given him at the Battle of Sluys in 1347
Evacuate troops from Dunkirk, saving many lives
Bird Poo!
Four gold herrings
Farting! A burst pulse sounds comes from the herring’s swim bladder, via its bottom. It is believed that herrings use this to communicate with the rest of their shoals.
Your Ideas on The Ice House
In February and March 2023, we hosted a series of 3 Open Space Events to gauge public opinion on what The Ice House could mean for communities in Great Yarmouth and the wider region.
These were run using the open space method which is an inclusive, democratic meeting method where participants set the agenda. Participants began the events sat in a circle and were encouraged to enter the circle and share with the group any ideas they had in relation to the question being asked. The day was then split into three sessions where people discussed the ideas that were put forward, the notes from which are submitted throughout the day.
The discussions from all three events have been collated and lightly edited into a book. Which you can download below.
The Ice House: Past, Present and Future book
Download
Read The Ice House Poem
The Ice House – A Poem by Jason Parr
The Ice House Open Weekend
15th - 16th April 2023
The Ice House Open Weekend was a celebration of community input into the future of heritage celebrations surrounding The Ice House!
Hosting guided tours, information boards, creative and interactive experiences and a screening of The Ice House Documentary. The Ice House Open Weekend provided a taste of what’s to come from this future national centre for outdoor arts and circus.
Supported By
