Williamsburg Refrigeration in the 1700s
There were basically only a couple of options in colonial America for refrigerating food and drink. The first is the icehouse, which was dug deep into the earth, and ice was cut from the river or pond during winter. They were brick lined and worked as the best way of keeping something cold in summer. Obviously they were only for the wealthy. It was a status symbol to have iced drinks in Summer in America, or anywhere else in the 1700s. The other was the cellar. At Williamsburg under the Governor’s Mansion, the basement cellar was utilized to keep food and drink at a lower temperature. The following photos will show you what that looked like.
It was a hot June day when I was up, and going under the mansion knocked several degrees off. It was like walking into a room with AC running. The floor was laid from flagstone which helped with the cooling.
Flagstone pavers with locked closets for special items.
The local brewery brewed beer, ale, stout. They were organized under in bins for the staff to quickly gather. The Governor in Colonial Virginia was a very important man and office. He had to project power, and entertain very powerful political leaders and merchants.
Various alcoholic beverages arranged in keeps.
The finest reserves were kept under lock and key.
Life in 1700s America was difficult. Having an icehouse or cellar was a luxury for the wealthy.
If you are interested in visiting Williamsburg, I would highly recommend it. It is a very safe, and family friendly environment. You may use the website
for instructions and purchasing tickets. I bought my ticket online and skipped the line. Pre purchase is a very wise move, for the line was exceedingly long.