Junction box

secla

I’m doing some decorating and theirs is a thin cable going around a door frame into this junction box, it then disappears of behind some wallpaper. Originally thought it was for a phone line but looks a little more electrical Albright thin gauge 

any thoughts ?

mi-key

Possibly for an old doorbell that isn't there anymore? A lot of them used to use that sort of cable for the button, then had a wire going off to a separate ringer unit that ran off the mains

FreeBear

If it is doorbell, it will probably be 12V AC being fed from a transformer somewhere. The transformer could be beside your consumer unit, or even inside the CU.

Do you have a multimeter ?

If so, check for voltage, and try and trace the wires back.

secla

We do have a doorbell in the hall. Maybe at some point there was an extension for an extra bell out the back. 

Il have to look out my multimeter and see if it’s still live 

daivid

My doorbell, which I assume is original to mid 70s, has similar thin wiring and runs off 4 D-cell batteries housed in the ringer. Your wallpaper makes me think your unit is of potentially similar vintage.

secla

The house is 1930s but this part is an extension , possibly 1970/80s.
problem is the wiring disappears behind all sorts so without destroying the house it’s hard to find where it’s going 

mi-key

secla said:

The house is 1930s but this part is an extension , possibly 1970/80s.
problem is the wiring disappears behind all sorts so without destroying the house it’s hard to find where it’s going 

As others said, check with a multimeter. If it has nothing going to it it was probably disconnected years ago. It won't hurt anything to just leave it there. Normally anything that close to a front door frame will be for a doorbell 

secla

This isn’t near the front door it’s in an old extension at the back of the house. I’m decorating and the wires are just routed around door frames and behind wallpaper so I’d rather remove it all if it’s not in use. Il get a multimeter on it

Eldi_Dos

Could be old extension bell for telephone, so you could hear phone if in garden.
Has the lid any markings on it.

mi-key

Eldi_Dos said:

Could be old extension bell for telephone, so you could hear phone if in garden.
Has the lid any markings on it.

Could also be an extension for a doorbell so they could hear it out in the garden ? 

secla

Eldi_Dos said:

Could be old extension bell for telephone, so you could hear phone if in garden.
Has the lid any markings on it.

Ashley regd 
made in England 

thats it