We are in the process of buying an early Victorian (c.1850) townhouse. It has five floors, the top floor going up into the eaves. On a recent visit we spotted that the rainwater guttering at the front is actually housed inside the top rooms. It runs below the window where it is boxed in, with a few areas where inspection/access is possible by lifting sections of the boxing. We originally thought it was a window seat. From the front wall it then goes along the side wall, finally exiting to a drainpipe at the back of the property.
There are no drainpipes on the front of the property whatsoever, nor on any of the adjoining ones. There is some evidence of damp on the inside wall below the window, and further round on the ceiling of the room below.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have any advice on how best to manage this type of drainage. We assume it must be common for Georgian/early Victorian properties?
There are no drainpipes on the front of the property whatsoever, nor on any of the adjoining ones. There is some evidence of damp on the inside wall below the window, and further round on the ceiling of the room below.
Has anyone seen anything like this before, or have any advice on how best to manage this type of drainage. We assume it must be common for Georgian/early Victorian properties?