What's this pipe in cellar?

Midlander01

Hi all, after viewing a Victorian two bed terrace I messaged seller about the pictured damage to the Cellar ceiling in the corner(plasterboard and battens) and the tape on an adjacent pipe. My initial thought was water had leaked from the pipe and caused the issue.

Seller replied:

a) Plumber had previously advised them this is an original pipe connecting to the trap and air bricks, acting like a sink trap/air-vent rather than carrying water and tape is there on his advice as the trap is before main drain and to prevent odours from escaping?

b)Seller said this is the ceiling plaster so is very old and when they first moved in 11 years ago, they caught the corner and the small section you see fell away and as they only use it to store our lawn mower etc, they never felt the need to get it repaired.

Can anyone advise what this pipe is? It seems too much of a coincidence theres tape on the pipe and next to it is ceiling damage but they are happy for me to get full Building Survey to validate their answers? In the pics Ive estimated where the pipe is situated and it appears to be nearer to the wall than the airbrick from the front view of the house?

Murmansk

Sorry but the pictures aren't very clear, which might explain why nobody has felt able to comment

molerat

What does it go to at the top.  It looks like the guttering downpipe but without seeing where it comes from who knows.  Clear photos may help.