Cemented box with a black cable sticking out, buried in the back garden

Mumili

I’m digging up my back garden to level it and lay new lawn, and I uncovered a cemented box-like structure buried underground with a thick cable coming out of it.

Since both electricity and gas supplies in my area are underground, I raised a request through LSBUD and marked my property. I’ve now received maps from Scottish Gas and Scottish Electric — both show their lines terminating near the front door, with nothing marked in the back garden.

That leaves me unsure what this is. The exposed black cable looks like an electric cable, it's filled with dirt, and it isn’t on the utility plans I received.

Has anyone come across something similar or can suggest what it might be?
Thank you

35har1old

Mumili said:

I’m digging up my back garden to level it and lay new lawn, and I uncovered a cemented box-like structure buried underground with a thick cable coming out of it.

Since both electricity and gas supplies in my area are underground, I raised a request through LSBUD and marked my property. I’ve now received maps from Scottish Gas and Scottish Electric — both show their lines terminating near the front door, with nothing marked in the back garden.

That leaves me unsure what this is. The exposed black cable looks like an electric cable, it's filled with dirt, and it isn’t on the utility plans I received.

Has anyone come across something similar or can suggest what it might be?
Thank you

Doesn't look like a cable could be old washing line post

WIAWSNB

Could you scrape out the inside, please, and also give it all a good wash?
Can you determine the material? Try scraping it with a knife or file. If you tap it with a hammer, is it metallic or plastic - does it go boing or does it clunk? If you hit it quite hard, does it dent?

MCT56

If there is any chance of it being an electric cable DON,T TOUCH IT and get it tested by someone competent. Personally I think it could be the base and stem for a rotary clothes line. If it is in an appropriate location that’s my guess.

QrizB

That doesn't look like a cable; there are no conductors. Looks more like a tube or pipe.

I'm another vote for "rotary clothes line socket".

GDB2222

If you’re worried about live electric cables, a 'volt stick' is a pretty useful tool to have. About £5-10 from Screwfix. It is not 100% reliable, but it will give you some reassurance before you dig into the concrete. 

Murmansk

Maybe you could dig a bit of the sand out - using something non-conductive - and see if it's actually a tube, which would support the theory it's a clothes line post tube

moto16

Another vote for it being the remnants of a rotary washing line.

Do us all a favour, and wash all the soil away so we can get a better look and also tell us roughly how deep it is from the top of the concrete to what was the surface of your garden?

Ectophile

WIAWSNB said:

Could you scrape out the inside, please, and also give it all a good wash?
Can you determine the material? Try scraping it with a knife or file. If you tap it with a hammer, is it metallic or plastic - does it go boing or does it clunk? If you hit it quite hard, does it dent?

And if we never hear anything again from the OP, then we will know it was live!

Mumili

Ectophile said:

WIAWSNB said:

Could you scrape out the inside, please, and also give it all a good wash?
Can you determine the material? Try scraping it with a knife or file. If you tap it with a hammer, is it metallic or plastic - does it go boing or does it clunk? If you hit it quite hard, does it dent?

And if we never hear anything again from the OP, then we will know it was live!

Can confirm that OP is alive. 
Turns out it was indeed a large washing line base. Thanks for the help — much appreciated.

That area is sloping towards the house, and I need to flatten that bit to create a step. I tried to chisel and hammer it, but it's very sturdy.  Looks like someone in the ’90s poured cement and gravel into that hole like there was no tomorrow. 

I am thinking of digging it even deeper and burying it. It will probably affect the lawn quality in that area, but alas. 

GDB2222

Mumili said:

Ectophile said:

WIAWSNB said:

Could you scrape out the inside, please, and also give it all a good wash?
Can you determine the material? Try scraping it with a knife or file. If you tap it with a hammer, is it metallic or plastic - does it go boing or does it clunk? If you hit it quite hard, does it dent?

And if we never hear anything again from the OP, then we will know it was live!

Can confirm that OP is alive. 
Turns out it was indeed the base of a very large washing line. Thanks for the help — much appreciated.

That area is sloping towards the house, and I need to flatten that bit to create a step. I tried to chisel and hammer it, but it's very sturdy.  Looks like someone in the ’90s poured cement and gravel into that hole like there was no tomorrow. 

I am thinking of digging it even deeper and burying it. It will probably affect the lawn quality in that area, but alas. 

A heavy SDS drill would probably break it up. It might be worth buying one, or maybe you can borrow one? Is there a tool library within your area?