Help - hole beneath gravelled area in garden.

KentishLady

Hi

We recently re-landscaped our garden.

At the far end near the shed, we removed some topsoil and compacted the remaining soil overlain with gravel.

I have just walked over the area today and some of the gravel appeared to have sunk. Not a problem I thought - the ground has just settled.

On further investigation it appears a hole has opened up underneath the gravelled area. I'll post a piccy in a mo.

Help - any ideas what I should do now?

KL.

Here is the links to the pictures of the hole. There seems to be some metal rods criss-crossing. Do you think there was some reinforced concrete there at some point which has failed?

This one shows the whole garden. The house is behind me when I took the photo and the hole is right at the far end near the shed.
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk17/KentishLady/Garden%20piccies/?action=view&current=DSCN0389.jpg

The hole....
http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk17/KentishLady/Garden%20piccies/?action=view&current=DSCN0387.jpg

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk17/KentishLady/Garden%20piccies/?action=view&current=DSCN0386.jpg

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk17/KentishLady/Garden%20piccies/?action=view&current=DSCN0382.jpg

ormus

how very odd.
it would appear to be a sort of hole or pond that has been covered up with some sort of reinforced lid.
it could be a nightmare to fill it all up if youve no idea of what size it is?

good luck anyways.

bookduck

just looking a the pictures, I would think it is sewage or drain as it looks like it has been capped off, saying that it might just be a rat hole.

to me it looks like to be metal screen over a cracked flagstone. You could always get a cheap usb camera down there and with a torch light it up. Poke a stick down and see what the edges are like, or even a piece of string with a weight on the end to see how far it goes down, and if the end it wet when you pull it up

KentishLady

One of the nurses at the hospital where DH is currently incarcerated suggested it might be an old cess pit which has been capped (badly obviously!!!!).

Anyone know if houses built turn of the century circa 1900 would have been likely to have cess pits? I just assumed they would have been built and linked up to public sewers. Maybe I was wrong.

KL.

ormus

maybe an old cesspit or just an old soakaway.

Canucklehead

Hi

Soakaway was my first thought, as it's at the far end of the garden .I wonder if you live near Betteshanger.? or any other coalmining area?

Corgi Guy.

wallbash

Anyone know if houses built turn of the century circa 1900 would have been likely to have cess pits?

ours did
Shared cesspit with three others :eek:

TimothyEBaldwin

It could be an old mine-working.

I suggest you get in contact with your council, such holes (whatever the cause) have been known to get rather large and swallow up houses - and de-rail trains. You should certainly have an expert look at it.

Canucklehead

Hi

Just a thought .How old would a cess pit need to be for it to not smell like.....well !!!!!!?

Corgi Guy.

MrsE_2

TimothyEBaldwin wrote: »

It could be an old mine-working.

I suggest you get in contact with your council, such holes (whatever the cause) have been known to get rather large and swallow up houses - and de-rail trains. You should certainly have an expert look at it.

I did wonder that, not to scare you, you have enough on your plate.

But just to put your mind at rest get the council to come round & have a look, then you will know. Don't worry though, it probably is something silly.

KentishLady

Canucklehead wrote: »

Hi

Just a thought .How old would a cess pit need to be for it to not smell like.....well !!!!!!?

Corgi Guy.

When we removed some of the soil it smelt of pee & !!!!!!. I just assumed that was where the cats had been doing their business.

KL.