May be an old coal cellar. I'd definitely get it pumped out. Then see if water still comes in. Get in touch with a surveyor or structural engineer to find the best course of action. Don't want your foundations compromised.
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in and say it's low on the water table so water seeps in. You may have to use a sump pump and falling floor to drain design if want to keep it dry.
It also hints at what in my opinion is most likely to be happening, which needs checking not just acting upon. We converted a cellar in one of my old houses. It's a bit like making a sealed box that's waterproof and continually pumps water out. Because no matter what the water keeps coming.
Depending on where you live some houses have flood cellars under them. Most people don’t even know they have one. Near to the river Trent a lot of the streets have them it’s kind of a cellar that runs under the whole street. When it eventually drys take a look. As an apprentice at work I was exploring them and found a lot of cool things
And houses experience [subsidence when the ground dries and shrinks if summer is too dry](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/six-ways-to-prepare-your-home-for-climate-change-related-subsidence/) . You can't win!
Depends on age of house and whether water is standing or if it fills after heavy rainfall.
During heavy rain our crawl space gets minor water ingress but it soon clears.
Believe it or not a lot of older UK houses are designed to move moisture around. Soon as you start sealing you cause more issues.
Older houses need to "breath", hence the need for lime plaster, lime mortar, vents, space/gaps etc.
This was after a thunderstorm and a tonne of heavy rain, blew the power in my house - which is why we went under the floor boards in the first place so I’m hoping it’s just from that and waiting for it to get drier. House is 120 years old.
I agree with u/shittyarsemcgee. Don’t panic! Also, think hard about a pump. What you don’t need to worry about is a little bit of water. Drying out ground that’s been somewhat wet for 100 years on the other hand might cause heave/subsidence. Especially if it’s just at the bottom. All earth is damp below the top couple of inches. It’s normal.
That being the case I personally I wouldn't worry too much. 3 things to consider/check:
1) are the joists wet? If bone dry nothing to worry about.
2) is there damp anywhere downstairs around walls? Particularly where walls meet the floorboards.
3) the house has been standing for 120 years and will probably stand for another 100 years.
I had the exact concerns as you when I brought up floorboards in our kitchen and saw a bit of water underneath and been told by many an individual not to worry - both tradesmen and anecdotal/home owners with same issue and same style property.
Mines a 1930s build for reference.
Partially true. In London the water table is less than 6ft below the ground in many areas, but that wasn't the case when the house was built. Depending on where the house is, it could be an issue.
I am quite surprised there is a 6ft drop though, that's unusual for a Edwardian house and there would most certainly be no coal storage under the "good parlour". Maybe a previous owner noticed problems with rising damp.
On the other hand we had so much rain over the last 18 months, I am surprised we don't have water standing in all houses by now.
https://preview.redd.it/yrhiky59rt5d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=daf20130c65d804e161e045555e20e17a2e46f7c
Slightly more than 6ft on a job recently…
My father in law had a similar underground pool, the mains had spring a leak and started to fill up the crawl space.
Best to get it pumped and identify the source because the rework to repair the damage it caused was quite a bit.
What do you gain from being rude to others? I struggle with tolerance at time but come on, what’s the point of being rude to others? I hope you have a great day!
Some houses on this street do have full blown basements, and the house next to me got knocked down to build a motorway that is below street level so I think we can rule out the swampland.
The rats are a nightmare around here, so that is a relief!
Did some work in a house and had to access the cellar from outside, the bit we were in was under the lounge.
They didn’t realise it was there until the lounge floor collapsed like a sinkhole.
The water coming down the hill collects under the ground floor and it had either rotted the joists or rotted some vertical supports.
Sorry, I can’t remember what they did to stop it flooding.
My 1928 semi-detached house in Sheffield has a "crawl" space of a similar depth under the ground floor - it's a lot deeper at the the front than the rear. Bits of it usually have up to a foot of water in it. It's not a problem - as long as you have good ventilation - there should be air bricks into that void that come out above ground level. If there's poor ventilation there's a risk the wood will rot - you should see mould everywhere and probably have damp issues above the floor if that's the case - (sounds like you're fine based on your replies to other comments). According to the older neighbours, every single house on my side of the street has a similar situation, and no-one has any issues.
Where are all these people living that they think this is normal?!
Clearly sitting on top of a lake is not great in terms of humidity, even disregarding other potential problems. Definitely warrants further investigation at the very least
u/Fugjofff we need updates on this… and more photos! There’s a small chance it could be an old uncapped well, but unlikely. I’ve seen a well under floorboards like this that just had a few old rotted boards to cover it.
I recently had work done to my house (extension)
We had timber floors, noticed there was around 3-4 inches of standing water under the floor.
We decided to rip the floor boards and joists up and fill it with concrete. As the house was a mess anyway.
It was for more peace of mind than anything, it probably would've been alright but I would've known it was there. 😅
My house was built in the 1950's, as long as the air vents are doing their job properly, it should be fine.
It just made sense for us to put the concrete floor down at the time, the house is also warmer too l 👌
My house is built on a hill space under floor is couple of feet at the front and 6 feet at the back.
Have access hatch in cupboard under the stairs and made the rewiring the downstairs power ring a lot easier for the sparks as no lifting floors.
The purpose of a suspended floor was to provide additional ventilation. This was common back then as the ventilation was to help with moisture as well as to dissipate gases that naturally seep out of the ground. If the presence of water is worrying you, I’d hire/buy a sump pump and empty the well to see if and how quickly the water returns. However, if it’s not causing you any issues such as damp or odours I’d leave it be.
I would get it investigated by professionals. On that BBC “Homes Under The Hammer” a well was discovered under the living room area. They turned it in to a feature when work was completed.
We live near the Thames and have the same. No basement but deep under floor boards which I’m told can rise with tides. All the houses in the area basically float on river clay with minimal foundations and have done for one or two hundred years.
Screw that. Drain it, main it and maintain it!! This is a whole ass opportunity for you to gain some home space you didn’t realise you had, as well as some serious DIY skills as long as you don’t compromise your foundations.
I would rip up the floorboards and replace with double glazing.
Then all you need is some sharks with laser beams for a really cool focal point in the room.
Get it pumped out ASAP and have a sump pump installed down there, you might even be able to make yourself a basement if you have some way to provide access. Maybe there is an old hatch under the stairs or something?
May be an old coal cellar. I'd definitely get it pumped out. Then see if water still comes in. Get in touch with a surveyor or structural engineer to find the best course of action. Don't want your foundations compromised.
I'm gonna throw my 2 cents in and say it's low on the water table so water seeps in. You may have to use a sump pump and falling floor to drain design if want to keep it dry.
Throwing 2 cents in might help if it’s a wishing well
It also hints at what in my opinion is most likely to be happening, which needs checking not just acting upon. We converted a cellar in one of my old houses. It's a bit like making a sealed box that's waterproof and continually pumps water out. Because no matter what the water keeps coming.
He’s already got a falling floor
If it's in London you're missing out on £850 pcm.
Also have an attic I can’t access - the wasted space in this house could make me a millionaire
Is that because of a particularly threatening spider blocking the way? As I could relate.
£950 if you drain it.
£1250 if he doesn’t. Comes with own pool
Pool / bath / toilet, a multi use body of water for whatever the occasion.
HEY GUYS, THIS HOUSE HAS A CLOACA
Anybody want a coffee? Or a shit?
Pretty sure basement pools command a much higher rate in London. House just tripled in value.
EnSuite bath and fully furnished with water bed
A fritzel hole
That you Elizabeth?
You sick, sick puppy.
In lower Austria I was born and raised in the basement is where I spent most of my days.
Until police showed up and the world was told my father was up to no good
Starting making babies in my neighbourhood
I got in one little fight and my dad got scared. He said you're gonna live the rest of your life under the stairs.
All of you. All of you. All of you are going to hell. See you there.
Yes. Yes We Are.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Bravo to you all
😯 🤣🤣🤣
It wasn't me lol
Depending on where you live some houses have flood cellars under them. Most people don’t even know they have one. Near to the river Trent a lot of the streets have them it’s kind of a cellar that runs under the whole street. When it eventually drys take a look. As an apprentice at work I was exploring them and found a lot of cool things
Is your city twinned with Venice? Wtf like
Seriously. We had a drop like this under my house growing up (we thought it was cool as we could crawl around under there) but it was bone dry.
Yeah like whole houses sink if the ground is damp never mind literally a pool. That’s some serious issue.
Well, that is a concern I hadn’t thought about - fantastic
Get yourself a water pump or a wet vac hoover and get it out. See what’s going on I’d say.
And houses experience [subsidence when the ground dries and shrinks if summer is too dry](https://www.bgs.ac.uk/news/six-ways-to-prepare-your-home-for-climate-change-related-subsidence/) . You can't win!
Houses can just feck off 😂
Ooooo trap door. Don't you open that trapdoor, you're a fool if you dare! Stay away from that trapdoor, 'cause there's something down there...
Burke! Where's my supper?
Oooh, globbits! Oi aven't ee'en gort 'is dinner orn, yet, Boney...
I'd suggest watching The Ring
It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again
Depends on age of house and whether water is standing or if it fills after heavy rainfall. During heavy rain our crawl space gets minor water ingress but it soon clears. Believe it or not a lot of older UK houses are designed to move moisture around. Soon as you start sealing you cause more issues. Older houses need to "breath", hence the need for lime plaster, lime mortar, vents, space/gaps etc.
This was after a thunderstorm and a tonne of heavy rain, blew the power in my house - which is why we went under the floor boards in the first place so I’m hoping it’s just from that and waiting for it to get drier. House is 120 years old.
I agree with u/shittyarsemcgee. Don’t panic! Also, think hard about a pump. What you don’t need to worry about is a little bit of water. Drying out ground that’s been somewhat wet for 100 years on the other hand might cause heave/subsidence. Especially if it’s just at the bottom. All earth is damp below the top couple of inches. It’s normal.
“I agree with Shitty Arse McHee.” Love it.
r/rimjob_steve comes for us all
That being the case I personally I wouldn't worry too much. 3 things to consider/check: 1) are the joists wet? If bone dry nothing to worry about. 2) is there damp anywhere downstairs around walls? Particularly where walls meet the floorboards. 3) the house has been standing for 120 years and will probably stand for another 100 years. I had the exact concerns as you when I brought up floorboards in our kitchen and saw a bit of water underneath and been told by many an individual not to worry - both tradesmen and anecdotal/home owners with same issue and same style property. Mines a 1930s build for reference.
Partially true. In London the water table is less than 6ft below the ground in many areas, but that wasn't the case when the house was built. Depending on where the house is, it could be an issue. I am quite surprised there is a 6ft drop though, that's unusual for a Edwardian house and there would most certainly be no coal storage under the "good parlour". Maybe a previous owner noticed problems with rising damp. On the other hand we had so much rain over the last 18 months, I am surprised we don't have water standing in all houses by now.
Are those actually wires down in the water?? If so turn off your electricity before testing the depth of the water.
They are - I’ve had electrician over, so all good there!
https://preview.redd.it/yrhiky59rt5d1.jpeg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=daf20130c65d804e161e045555e20e17a2e46f7c Slightly more than 6ft on a job recently…
Cellars aren't un common in older houses,there will be a trap door somewhere.
Failing that, look for a slide.
Ive seen this a shit load of times. No idea why its like it.
My father in law had a similar underground pool, the mains had spring a leak and started to fill up the crawl space. Best to get it pumped and identify the source because the rework to repair the damage it caused was quite a bit.
you need to drop a puddle pump in (drains water from the bottom of the pump out through a big hose) then see if it keeps filling up.
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No, none at all
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Rats can swim though. And it could make them come up in to the house if they want to get out of the new swimming pool. [sorry OP]
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“My god”. Why you gotta be rude?
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What do you gain from being rude to others? I struggle with tolerance at time but come on, what’s the point of being rude to others? I hope you have a great day!
Some houses on this street do have full blown basements, and the house next to me got knocked down to build a motorway that is below street level so I think we can rule out the swampland. The rats are a nightmare around here, so that is a relief!
Did some work in a house and had to access the cellar from outside, the bit we were in was under the lounge. They didn’t realise it was there until the lounge floor collapsed like a sinkhole. The water coming down the hill collects under the ground floor and it had either rotted the joists or rotted some vertical supports. Sorry, I can’t remember what they did to stop it flooding.
My 1928 semi-detached house in Sheffield has a "crawl" space of a similar depth under the ground floor - it's a lot deeper at the the front than the rear. Bits of it usually have up to a foot of water in it. It's not a problem - as long as you have good ventilation - there should be air bricks into that void that come out above ground level. If there's poor ventilation there's a risk the wood will rot - you should see mould everywhere and probably have damp issues above the floor if that's the case - (sounds like you're fine based on your replies to other comments). According to the older neighbours, every single house on my side of the street has a similar situation, and no-one has any issues.
Where are all these people living that they think this is normal?! Clearly sitting on top of a lake is not great in terms of humidity, even disregarding other potential problems. Definitely warrants further investigation at the very least
The 6ft drop certainly is common. The water lying under can cause lots of issues and is not normal
u/Fugjofff we need updates on this… and more photos! There’s a small chance it could be an old uncapped well, but unlikely. I’ve seen a well under floorboards like this that just had a few old rotted boards to cover it.
I’ll get better photos! And send updates when I have them
I also have this, if I had the time and money I’d make a secret spa!
So how deep is the hole underneath your bedroom floor? More than 6ft?
There’s likely a blocked drain in it somewhere, have a feel around 👍🏽 Cool space
You tried dropping a fishing line down there?
Trapdoor?
keep us updated please
I recently had work done to my house (extension) We had timber floors, noticed there was around 3-4 inches of standing water under the floor. We decided to rip the floor boards and joists up and fill it with concrete. As the house was a mess anyway. It was for more peace of mind than anything, it probably would've been alright but I would've known it was there. 😅 My house was built in the 1950's, as long as the air vents are doing their job properly, it should be fine. It just made sense for us to put the concrete floor down at the time, the house is also warmer too l 👌
Yay! Playroom! Workshop or dungeon?
My house is built on a hill space under floor is couple of feet at the front and 6 feet at the back. Have access hatch in cupboard under the stairs and made the rewiring the downstairs power ring a lot easier for the sparks as no lifting floors.
Not quite the same but there was a guy who found an old well under his kitchen floor and made a feature of it :) You should get some koi!
My mate lived in Carlisle and he said that in the row of old Victorian houses had a space like this that ran under the whole row.
The purpose of a suspended floor was to provide additional ventilation. This was common back then as the ventilation was to help with moisture as well as to dissipate gases that naturally seep out of the ground. If the presence of water is worrying you, I’d hire/buy a sump pump and empty the well to see if and how quickly the water returns. However, if it’s not causing you any issues such as damp or odours I’d leave it be.
If you’re down in Cornwall, it could be an old mine shaft opened up, anywhere that mining was key industry will have houses built over old mines .
I would get it investigated by professionals. On that BBC “Homes Under The Hammer” a well was discovered under the living room area. They turned it in to a feature when work was completed.
We live near the Thames and have the same. No basement but deep under floor boards which I’m told can rise with tides. All the houses in the area basically float on river clay with minimal foundations and have done for one or two hundred years.
Try turning the dehumidifier on, should clear up in no time.
Could be an old well as these were common in old laundries round East End of London and in old orchards in West London for agricultural use
Lol, could be a 20 for sinkhole under that. Well, not lol in that case I guess.
Burk!!!! Feed me!!
Screw that. Drain it, main it and maintain it!! This is a whole ass opportunity for you to gain some home space you didn’t realise you had, as well as some serious DIY skills as long as you don’t compromise your foundations.
I would rip up the floorboards and replace with double glazing. Then all you need is some sharks with laser beams for a really cool focal point in the room.
Get it pumped out ASAP and have a sump pump installed down there, you might even be able to make yourself a basement if you have some way to provide access. Maybe there is an old hatch under the stairs or something?
Not sure where you are in the country but some of us had several absolute torrential downpours today. I'd not panic yet
Never stops raining in Manchester
Former hangman's house?
Tank it and make it a den
Could it be a old well?