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Original poster

Why would an old utility room have a large concrete slab full of dirt?

57 replies

Scanson · 01/10/2026 14:47

Why on earth would someone have a concrete structure like this inside a utility room !?

House built 1800 we presume this used to be an outbuilding before being attached to the house via an extension mid 1900s.

Under the tiles is a thick slab of concrete, then a plastic membrane and then filled with dirt & rubble.

Its massive. Could we be looking at an old outhouse area? (Why fill with dirt though?) Or a weird potting area before they got a greenhouse? Again wouldnt you clear it before tiling over it? I dont think it was a cold slab because it is underneath a south facing window. PRAYING its not some unsolved missing persons case 🥶

Why would an old utility room have a large concrete slab full of dirt?
Why would an old utility room have a large concrete slab full of dirt?
Why would an old utility room have a large concrete slab full of dirt?
OP posts:
InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing · 05/10/2026 09:41

BookEngine · 04/10/2026 22:03

A copper, removed and gentrified with the lovely clay tiles, leaving the original support for the copper washing bit and the rear flue bricked up.
Would the room work as a scullery, (think utility room but instead of a washing machine you light a fire under the copper and boil water in a big caldron). Direct access to outside for hanging out washing?

That’s a good suggestion!

Original poster
Scanson · 05/10/2026 19:34

CedarCreek · 04/10/2026 16:45

Could it have been a dairy? 1930s cement slabs and floor bricked or cemented up to hide the gap underneath?

Its not big enough to be a cattle dairy but im wondering about a smallholding type with a couple of goats!?

OP posts:
Original poster
Scanson · 05/10/2026 19:35

thenightsky · 04/10/2026 16:49

Our previous house was built around 1800 and we decided to built a plinth behind the stairs to hold our music system and playstation stuff. DH took up some tiles and there was earth. We thought it shouldn't be there, so started taking it all out. then I realised it was the actual earth and that part of the cottage had no foundations. Normal back then I suppose. We put a membrane down and tiled over the top. Maybe the previous owners of your house did something like we had to.

Oh my word! The thought of this terrifies me, sometimes old isnt always better in this regard...

OP posts:
Original poster
Scanson · 05/10/2026 19:36

CedarCreek · 04/10/2026 16:51

I’m having issues posting a picture of what I’m trying to say!
Come back witches tomb poster. I’m all agog!

This is intrueging and could be the case!

OP posts:
Original poster
Scanson · 05/10/2026 19:38

BookEngine · 04/10/2026 22:03

A copper, removed and gentrified with the lovely clay tiles, leaving the original support for the copper washing bit and the rear flue bricked up.
Would the room work as a scullery, (think utility room but instead of a washing machine you light a fire under the copper and boil water in a big caldron). Direct access to outside for hanging out washing?

I mean this is exactly why I posted on here, I would have never thought of this but it could definitely make sense! I wish these old houses had manuals and photos to go with it ..

OP posts:
Hnjk67 · 05/10/2026 20:03

BookEngine · 04/10/2026 22:03

A copper, removed and gentrified with the lovely clay tiles, leaving the original support for the copper washing bit and the rear flue bricked up.
Would the room work as a scullery, (think utility room but instead of a washing machine you light a fire under the copper and boil water in a big caldron). Direct access to outside for hanging out washing?

This is the answer, I would think. An old washroom. Typically south facing for warmer and sunnier drying conditions.

Nettleskeins · 05/10/2026 20:35

I was going to say a copper too. Under is where the fire was, the empty space for fuel burning and the copper for boiling the clothes rests on top. They filled in the empty space.

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