under ground stream

[angrybird]

Hi everyone im new to PP as ive just purchased a property from the 1840's. I seem to have a damp problem like most on here but was told by the village busy body (Post man) that there is an underground stream that goes under my house! Panic sets in! how the heck do I tackle this ? and where do I start to look ?
I know my house was once a Wheelwright and a Blacksmiths so I was wondering if there could be a Well close by?

There are lots of plus points on the house though, I have found lots of period features that some eejit felt fit to hide or cover up

Photos will follow when I can work out how to make the files smaller

 

[worms]

ive just purchased a property from the 1840's... there is an underground stream that goes under my house... Panic sets in!

Welcome to the PPUK forum! If it's been there since the 1840's, chances are it won't fall down on your watch! So no need to panic!

 

[Jellyfire]

Hi Angrybird, welcome to the forum.

I can't be much help im afraid, other than to suggest trying to dig out some old maps ( http://www.cassinimaps.co.uk/ sell digital and print versions of lots of old maps), they may possibly show if there was a stream which is now covered, though probably a long shot. As for whether a stream under the house should be a reason for panic, it may sound scary but it's not as unusual as you may think, I've even seen it as a feature on estate agents details before! Don't panic though, if the house was built on a stream back in the 1840's and is still standing, then I'd be very surprised if it isn't designed to do so, and the damp may be easily solved by putting a few things back to how they were intended to be when it was built, such as ground levels, breathable surfaces etc.

I'm sure somebody much more knowledgable than me will soon be along to give some proper advice

 

[Jellyfire]

It took me so long to write that post that in the meantime Worms managed to say the same thing in one much more concise sentence!

 

[Lime]

My advice is don't worry and get back to the source of information and ask for more.

 

[biffvernon]

One of my favourite houses is Dove Cottage, Ambleside, once the home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. It has a stream running under it. Clearly the house was built, in the early 17th century, deliberately over the stream, which runs openly through the larder, supplying constant refrigeration as well as a clean water supply.

You have a valuable asset. Relax and write poetry.

 

[tobydog]

We're back to Ambleside in 6 weeks. We usually go there twice a year. We are working our way round most of the houses that Wordsworth lived in and he certainly got about particularly Hawkshead, and Grasmere church (St.Oswalds) where most of the Wordsworth's are buried.

Some of you might be interested in the link below. St. Oswalds is Grade I listed.

http://www.visitcumbria.com/amb/grasmere-st-oswalds-church.htm

 

[philpjuk100]

Welcome angrybird from one who also lives in an old wheelwrights shop,sorry cannot offer advice other than"if it aint broke don`t mend it" I think that other criteria apply when looking at damp in older property,phil.

 

[angrybird]

Thank you to everyone for your warm welcome and wise words
As I was sat sitting this morning I thought "why worry the house hasn't moved in all those years" and then I read your replys
The house is built on bedrock (Fred Flintstone would have approved) some of this is visible in the kitchen and dining room.There are lots of lovely features I have found hidden under plasterboard and laminate flooring (YUK!) and there was once a limestone cottage in the garden which has long gone but has left me with a wealth of beautiful carved limestone copings and stones.
I know I have my work cut out and taking off the outside render is a job and a half but one day, I dont know when , I hope I can restore this lovely house to its former glory

here are a couple of pictures one from 1860 (sorry about the quality) and two from the present day

 

[Penners]

Hello and welcome, Angrybird.

I'm another one who's going to say "relax"!

IF (note the capitals) the busybody is correct, your house has stood over this stream for more than 150 years. I assume you bought it as a house and not a pile of rubble, so it seems to have survived this experience unscathed, so far. There's absolutely no reason why this should change.

There are probably other people on this forum whose houses also stand over underground water courses - the only difference is that they don't know about it!

 

[MdB]

My house is built on clay at the bottom of a valley. When it rains for a while (i.e. not in the last year) the water table is roughly 300mm below floor level everywhere. Dig a hole and it just fills with water. A bit of sensible drainage and the lowering of ground levels outside the house means we do don't now have any damp problems. Not difficult to do nor expensive.

 

[MatthewC]

As somone who bought an 1840s pile of damp stone, plaster and wood, I'd like to know precisely what the damp problem is before saying that it won't fall down! I seriously think that the ceilings in my house would have collapsed in the snow of Dec 2010 if I hadn't bought it and got the roof covered just before that.

I'd also like to comment on the unusual fact that lots of regulars have welcomed angrybird to the forum and NONE have yet asked for pictures! These standards are slipping so far - it makes a man want to reach for a Kit Kat!

Edit - the pictures above weren't there when I posted - presumably the mods delay second posts of a new poster as well as the first one?

 

[LadyArowana]

I'd also like to comment on the unusual fact that lots of regulars have welcomed angrybird to the forum and NONE have yet asked for pictures! These standards are slipping so far - it makes a man want to reach for a Kit Kat!

I think he was allowed a little slack because he did promise pictures once they could be resized.

 

[agbagb]

As long as it carries on going under it'll be fine. Only worry if it stops going under and starts comming up!

There's loads of things to check out before looking at anti gravity water..

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Welcome angrybirds.

Unless you can see punts with, er, punters in them, think you'll be OK. Look for the sources of damp though.

Can we have some pictures now please? :wink:

 

[steveb]

My neighbour has a house called the "old forge" which has been around for a couple or three hundred years. It also has a stream running directly under it in a culvert, presumably the blacksmith used to get water from it but no-one really knows for sure.

These days there is a hole in the living room floor that allow a cup on a stick to be passed down to ascertain the depth of the water - or more relevantly to see how close the ground floor is to flooding at any point in time, which happens once in a while.

 

[angrybird]

One of my favourite houses is Dove Cottage, Ambleside, once the home of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. It has a stream running under it. Clearly the house was built, in the early 17th century, deliberately over the stream, which runs openly through the larder, supplying constant refrigeration as well as a clean water supply.

You have a valuable asset. Relax and write poetry.

This is definatly going to be on my list for places to visit. If its good enough for William Wordsworth to have a stream running through his larder its good enough for me

 

[angrybird]

Welcome angrybird from one who also lives in an old wheelwrights shop,sorry cannot offer advice other than"if it aint broke don`t mend it" I think that other criteria apply when looking at damp in older property,phil.

Hi Phil thanks for your reply I have just found half of the wheelwrights sharpening stone buried in the garden, it will have pride of place in my new wall

 

[angrybird]

Hello and welcome, Angrybird.

I'm another one who's going to say "relax"!

IF (note the capitals) the busybody is correct, your house has stood over this stream for more than 150 years. I assume you bought it as a house and not a pile of rubble, so it seems to have survived this experience unscathed, so far. There's absolutely no reason why this should change.

There are probably other people on this forum whose houses also stand over underground water courses - the only difference is that they don't know about it!

Thanks Penners the house is pretty solid apart from the odd patch of damp,as the house is built on bedrock im hoping it wont move far

 

[angrybird]

As somone who bought an 1840s pile of damp stone, plaster and wood, I'd like to know precisely what the damp problem is before saying that it won't fall down! I seriously think that the ceilings in my house would have collapsed in the snow of Dec 2010 if I hadn't bought it and got the roof covered just before that.

I'd also like to comment on the unusual fact that lots of regulars have welcomed angrybird to the forum and NONE have yet asked for pictures! These standards are slipping so far - it makes a man want to reach for a Kit Kat!

Edit - the pictures above weren't there when I posted - presumably the mods delay second posts of a new poster as well as the first one?

haha thank you Matthew i did try and upload a few photos, im still bashing my head on the desk about resizing the others
I think i'll have a kitkat !!