Another visible part of the park's earlier topography is the large depression in the ground in front of the mansion (now St Edward's School) on the west side of the Lilley Brook. This was part of Charlton Park's c17/18 landscaping when much earth was apparently moved to create this bowl-like 'amphitheatre' and a lake above the central waterfall (there were once at least four waterfalls along the Lilley Brook within Charlton Park) extending the westward view and giving a vista of elegance and natural beauty from the mansion's terrace and upper windows. The 'bowl' itself once contained a pool, isolated from the Lilley Brook (see 1845 and 1885 maps above). It is likely that this static containment of easier frozen water was the source of ice for the nearby ice-house, insulated by straw and drawn upon during summer months. Today the depression is rough open ground, delineated by the boundary fence of St Edward's School, with a modern footpath/cycle-track following the curved northward rim towards the confluence of Lilley Brook and River Chelt and Cox's Meadow. The construction of the 'theatre' and pool would have impacted on the medieval ridge-and-furrow in this area and must have preceded the planting of the now fully matured trees within it, as well as the (extant) north facing ice-house in its west bank. The old plough rigs went over and at right angles to this bank, continuing across 'old park' and into the gardens of Charlton Park Gate (built post 1935) where some remained visible in dawn/dusk low-light conditions until at least 1979.

© J RawesThe ice-house as it was in 1976, now in the grounds of St Edward's School (Barbara Rawes is on the left).
This cool structure was built in 1784, was domical with an entry eye at the top and passage vault to north.The former mansion (then Charlton Park Convent School) is just out of view to the left of the ice-house. The cedar tree (top right) is the 'King of the Cedars', on the footpath leading to Moorend Road.