Is this a window?

[tom.harrigan]

Hi

Here's a pic of the front end of the cellar I recently found showing the stairs:

At the other end, there is this curious feature that appears to have been a window. Does anyone have a clue as to what it might be, bearing in mind it's underground?

 

[Penners]

A coal chute? It may be underground now, but might perhaps have had an "area" outside it at one time.

 

[MdB]

Coal chute would have been my guess too.

 

[tom.harrigan]

I don't think it's a coal chute. It looks like an original feature, so it's from the 1600s. Also, the depth of the "window" is 33", above which is a stone supporting the partition wall between me and my neighbour. The walls are rubble built, so a large piece of stone is quite a rarity in the buildings. As far as I know the row of labourer's cottages (there were 4 - I've got 2 of them) was built at the same time. I'm suspicious my neighbours have a cellar too.

T

 

[Carol]

Could the outside ground level have risen significantly over the years? Our cellar was not originally completely underground and had about eighteen inches above ground level, others in our area have window arches almost completely buried now which were originally just above the soil line.

 

[chuckey]

Would there have been a gardrobe some where above it? Could also explain the rise in soil level! :roll:
Frank

 

[Penners]

I think you'll find that a garderobe would have been designed to shed its products outwards from the house, not inwards. :x

And I don't think a labourer's cottage would have had one.

 

[middi]

To me it looks like a 10 or 11th C. part of a castle with that feature being a narrow slit window to fire arrows from, now sunk below ground ( ??)

 

[Edwardia]

What a great cellar ! Do you think it could be remnants of a previous building ?

 

[Schoolmarm]

Chimbley? :lol:

I love Tom's house.

 

[Penners]

I love Tom's house.

But apparently Photobucket don't.

 

[tom.harrigan]

Sorry, try the following link:

http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr219/tomharrigan/cellar/