Bankhill Ice House

The Bankhill Ice House was built in around 1796 to cater to Berwick’s booming fishing industry. Whereas fish such as salmon and trout which were caught on the Tweed were preserved by being pickled or salted before being sent to market – ice meant that the fish could be kept cool on long journeys to markets in London or even Paris.

The ice would be imported from places such as Norway in huge blocks and stored in ice houses around the town, the bankhill one being the biggest.

During the second World War it was used as an air raid shelter. It was equipped with 8 chemical toilets, a brick baffle wall and had an emergency exit at the back.