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Manhole Chamber Query
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Manhole Chamber Query
Hi
We are looking to put down a 5.4m * 3.5M concrete hardstanding for a a shed/gazebo structure to sit on. In preparing the ground we have uncovered a 700m * 700m iron manhole cover. We opened it up and below was a rather large chamber lined by 8 layers of bricks (good condition) plus a then a further drop to a wider area with a large pool of standing water in it - no smells or signs of toilet paper etc so guessing not a foul drain. Approx 2 meters depth overall I would guess. The manhole cover sits away from the proposed hardstanding location by approx 250mm so no question or need to build directly on top of it.
Couple of questions as not sure where to start:
How would I get information on the purpose this drain?
Is the standing water anything to be concerned about?
Does the proximity to the proposed location of the hardstanding mean seeking approvals or put any kind of stress on the chamber structure?
Not even sure if there is anything to worry about at all to be honest but it was a bit of a surprise finding such a large chamber under the flower beds!
Thanks
We are looking to put down a 5.4m * 3.5M concrete hardstanding for a a shed/gazebo structure to sit on. In preparing the ground we have uncovered a 700m * 700m iron manhole cover. We opened it up and below was a rather large chamber lined by 8 layers of bricks (good condition) plus a then a further drop to a wider area with a large pool of standing water in it - no smells or signs of toilet paper etc so guessing not a foul drain. Approx 2 meters depth overall I would guess. The manhole cover sits away from the proposed hardstanding location by approx 250mm so no question or need to build directly on top of it.
Couple of questions as not sure where to start:
How would I get information on the purpose this drain?
Is the standing water anything to be concerned about?
Does the proximity to the proposed location of the hardstanding mean seeking approvals or put any kind of stress on the chamber structure?
Not even sure if there is anything to worry about at all to be honest but it was a bit of a surprise finding such a large chamber under the flower beds!
Thanks
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- Lemon Quarter
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
My first thought is that it may be an old well. Much more likely in a country area.
I had a C16 cottage in Lincolnshire many years ago and found something similar which did turn out to be the well for the cottage.
I had a C16 cottage in Lincolnshire many years ago and found something similar which did turn out to be the well for the cottage.
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- Lemon Half
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
It may well be an old cess pit. I have previously excavated one and it was absolutely clean and smell free, yet I know it had been in long use.
regards, dspp
regards, dspp
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- The full Lemon
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
My money would be on a well. I live in an extended 19th century cottage and like others on my road, it had a well. I think mine has been fiiled in but there are still several around. Can you use a plumbline to see how deep the standing water is?
Dod
Dod
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- Lemon Slice
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
Would it be worth pumping out the water, to (1) see what's in the hole, and (2) to see if it refills with ground water?
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- Lemon Half
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- Lemon Quarter
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
Could one re-purpose it as a wine cellar, grey water reservoir, nuclear bunker, a zombie apocalypse hide away, underground lair, bondage dungeon what a useful find.
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- Lemon Quarter
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
redsturgeon wrote:Soakaway?
John
Most of them are filled with rubble when they are built.
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- Lemon Half
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
sg31 wrote:redsturgeon wrote:Soakaway?
John
Most of them are filled with rubble when they are built.
I'd agree but I just uncovered on in my garden, empty with a concrete roof to prevent collapse.
John
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
redsturgeon wrote:sg31 wrote:redsturgeon wrote:Soakaway?
John
Most of them are filled with rubble when they are built.
I'd agree but I just uncovered on in my garden, empty with a concrete roof to prevent collapse.
John
I did wonder if was a soak away too. How did you determine yours actually was a soak away especially in the absence of the rubble usually used in them?
I think I will need to get a drain firm to take a look. The standing water maybe be fine but I can other pipes come into the chamber - I think from drainpipes - and if it’s a drain then I would expect it to ...drain.
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- Lemon Half
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
TurboukToo2 wrote:redsturgeon wrote:sg31 wrote:
Most of them are filled with rubble when they are built.
I'd agree but I just uncovered on in my garden, empty with a concrete roof to prevent collapse.
John
I did wonder if was a soak away too. How did you determine yours actually was a soak away especially in the absence of the rubble usually used in them?
I think I will need to get a drain firm to take a look. The standing water maybe be fine but I can other pipes come into the chamber - I think from drainpipes - and if it’s a drain then I would expect it to ...drain.
The pipes running into it from my down pipes.
John
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- Lemon Pip
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
Another possibility : some sort of ground water attenuation structure.
i.e. in days of old people tended not to built in places that flooded or had a high water table ( near the surface ).
Then came the pressure to build loadsa houses in these margin places.
The developers aid "We have the technology." "We can manage the water table : we can attenuate the flooding."
And thus SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems gave rise to the possibility of all sorts of underground structures.
e.g. some of these can be like cavernous underground lakes.
My late mother's last house had a mystery manhole in the garden. This contained a dark pit of water, of unknown depth.
That ( modern ) estate was build on a water meadow.
No sign of flooding, even in the worst of the heaviest rainfall.
i.e. in days of old people tended not to built in places that flooded or had a high water table ( near the surface ).
Then came the pressure to build loadsa houses in these margin places.
The developers aid "We have the technology." "We can manage the water table : we can attenuate the flooding."
And thus SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems gave rise to the possibility of all sorts of underground structures.
e.g. some of these can be like cavernous underground lakes.
My late mother's last house had a mystery manhole in the garden. This contained a dark pit of water, of unknown depth.
That ( modern ) estate was build on a water meadow.
No sign of flooding, even in the worst of the heaviest rainfall.
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
To close this one off - Just had the inspection done and it’s a double width soakaway 2.7metres deep and 3 metres wide. Bit odd as it’s only serving two rainwater downpipes. Not shared and as it doesn’t extend under the area I am laying concrete all is good. Looking forward to receiving the CCTV footage which I found fascinating.
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- Lemon Quarter
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Re: Manhole Chamber Query
I'm glad the problem has been solved, so I hope I'm allowed to be a bit flippant. When working with a communications company which was installing fibre optics cables around the country, we were advised not to use the sexist description "Manhole". They were to be called underground chambers - or UGCs.
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