In 2013 the Friends of Middleton Park approached South Leeds Archaeology. A member of the Friends of Middleton Park had discovered a potential site in the park which might prove to be the ice house associated with Middleton Park Lodge, the large house that used to be in the park.
Members of SLA, together with some FOMP volunteers, agreed to carry out an excavation over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Paul Boothroyd directed the excavation which revealed the top of a double skinned brick construction. We did not excavate into the inverted cone. In true Time Team tradition we were beginning to think on the third day that we had found the entrance when we ran out of time.
three years later and another excavation is being planned. This time with the park’s very own Young Archaeologists Club and this time we hope to be able to confirm where the entrance was and how it was constructed.
The original story appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post who have given us permission to use the above photograph of Paul and Carole showing the excavation.