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Original poster

To ask what this massive hole under our garden is?

163 replies

Greatbighole · 10/12/2021 09:53

Husband just lifted up a slate in the garden and uncovered a concrete chamber which goes under our property and next door. It’s 6.5 feet deep. House was built in 1910, we moved in a few months ago. Didn’t come up in the survey or searches.
Any ideas?
Next door must know as they have built an extension over it but we don’t know them and don’t want to go knocking to ask right now, but obviously we will when we see them!
My husband accidentally dropped the slate into the hole which is what you can see in the bottom.

To ask what this massive hole under our garden is?
To ask what this massive hole under our garden is?
To ask what this massive hole under our garden is?
OP posts:
ShirleyPhallus · 10/12/2021 11:15

I love stuff like this too so just placemarking for updates!

EdgeOfTheSky · 10/12/2021 11:18

The diameter of the pipe looks a bit small for cesspit, doesn’t it?

EdgeOfTheSky · 10/12/2021 11:19

@ShirleyPhallus

I love stuff like this too so just placemarking for updates!
Yes! This is the most exciting thread for AGES Grin
LittleDandelionClock · 10/12/2021 11:19

@ToughTittyWhompus

Murder room
I have to admit there are some George Marshall (Lovely Bones) vibes about it! Shock 😱
BoredZelda · 10/12/2021 11:20

Air raid shelter, and they fed a water pipe in so they had a supply in case they were in there for days?

That’s not a water pipe, that’s a drainage pipe.

FortunesFave · 10/12/2021 11:21

Stick your phone down there and take a pic with flash!

rockywilderness · 10/12/2021 11:22

@ToughTittyWhompus

Murder room
Grin
LittleDandelionClock · 10/12/2021 11:23

@FortunesFave

Stick your phone down there and take a pic with flash!
There's already a couple of pics of the inside that the OP took (on the first post she put.) Smile

The pics actually look like she got IN there and took them!!!!!!!!!! 😱

Terminallysleepdeprived · 10/12/2021 11:23

I work for a septic tank firm, I would say cesspit.

Is that pipe at the top or lower down?

Flapjacker48 · 10/12/2021 11:24

Coal cellar. Any air raid shelter would have access, steps etc.

alittlequinnie · 10/12/2021 11:24

Never mind what it used to be or it's origins...

... just make sure your husband sees it and knows that's where he will be placed if he gets into your bad books!

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/12/2021 11:25

I'm going along the Murder Room route and offering Plague Pit Wink

Or a Zombie Storage Facility like in The Walking Dead when they were all in the barn under a false floor ?

I did think "Oh extra cold storage" but now I've changed my mind

Ellen888 · 10/12/2021 11:26

I vote cess-pit Smile

Bluntness100 · 10/12/2021 11:27

Fairly sure that’s an old concrete septic tank,

www.dangertech.org/blog/2013/04/08/things-to-do-with-an-old-septic-tank/

RedToothBrush · 10/12/2021 11:27

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

I'm going along the Murder Room route and offering Plague Pit Wink

Or a Zombie Storage Facility like in The Walking Dead when they were all in the barn under a false floor ?

I did think "Oh extra cold storage" but now I've changed my mind

How about the residence of a failed mass murderer?
PussyCatEatingPigsInBlankets · 10/12/2021 11:28

If the house was build c1910, there's no way it's an air raid shelter.
Heavy bombers weren't common until the 2nd world war.

It's either a coal hole or a cellar accessed from outside - maybe there was a timber ladder down and timber doors where the slate cover is?

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 10/12/2021 11:28

It’s an underground water cistern, collecting rainwater from roofs etc. We had one behind our cottage, it was massive and seemed far too big for the size of the detached isolated cottage.

Ellen888 · 10/12/2021 11:29

I was going to add - the surveyor seems remiss here.

Isn't it marked on the deeds?

Take advice from an expert and make it secure, as it looks dangerous.

Original poster
Greatbighole · 10/12/2021 11:41

@YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp

It’s an underground water cistern, collecting rainwater from roofs etc. We had one behind our cottage, it was massive and seemed far too big for the size of the detached isolated cottage.
Spot on!! My dad has been round to investigate. Says it’s a water tank, and the pipe into it is fed from a drain by the house. Not a cess pit as it’s completely clean. Not an air raid shelter or a coal hole. And not a murder room Shock To the PP who thought I got in it to take pics, no way! My husband needs to go down to retrieve the slate though, rather him than me. I have no idea how it didn’t come up in the survey
OP posts:
Leftbutcameback · 10/12/2021 11:43

This is very exciting! Mystery rooms are better, but mystery hole in garden is cool!

silverbubbles · 10/12/2021 11:46

doesn't look that old does it? Certainly doesn't look like it has been used.

Perhaps someone thought they needed a Storm drain / septic tank and then didn't use it....

HippyMoon · 10/12/2021 11:48

Cesspit or coal hole, based on your location.

HippyMoon · 10/12/2021 11:48

Oops just saw your update. How interesting!

Knittedfairies · 10/12/2021 11:48

We've got one of those by the kitchen window; a big round hole, brick-lined and about 6ft deep. It's fed from the down pipes from the roof. It didn't come up on the survey either and was quite a surprise when we found it.

TeaAndStrumpets · 10/12/2021 11:56

We've got a brick lined soakaway behind our house, there is an inspection cover on it. It takes surface water. The house dates from 1902.