The ‘ice trade ‘ began in the US In 1806, with ice shipments reaching England during the 1830’s. However ‘ice houses’, used to store food on large estates, had been recorded in England from around 1660, with the idea presumably coming from Europe around this time. During the 20th Century factories were developed in England to produce artificial ice. Silver Ice Buckets from before this would have been considered expensive luxuries, and are highly sought after, as are Art Deco designs.