Very wet room under pier - what was it?

[Greg.hart]

I can't find my previous post on this so have created a new one (sorry but hopefully this one might make more sense)

My flat is the basement and below street level, causing some levels of damp. Some of these i think I can cure but I am at a loss with what to do with a room I have which is situated under the pier and entrance into the property above.

It's about 3m x 2.5m and just under 2m high

At one point it was accessed through the main building but this has since been blocked up with breeze blocks and a entrance created to the outside

It has a brick and rock construction which has seriously seen better days and is letting in considerable water (Had bee dry for a while before these pics were taken) and has been for a long time looking at the stalagmites or stalactites, can remember which go up or down.

So I would welcome any ideas on how to reduce the damp in this room and consequentially the bedroom as I do not think that I will be able to stop the water ingress, perhaps reduce it? Or any ideas on what to do with the room, have thought of opening up the doorway back into the main building but presumably this is going to cause more damp problems and would involve major works to seal it?

I am also curious to any ones ideas as to what it was originally, Have thought of a coal shed but there doesn't seem to be any chute which I would have expected if it was and is on the opposite side to the chimneys which again I wouldn't expect for a coal shed.

 

[Nemesis]

Cold store/pantry?

 

[Greg.hart]

Kinda what i was thinking and guess as it's about as far away from what I assume would have been the kitchen ie where the chimney is.

What to do with it is the more complicated matter I guess, really can't begin to think of how to stop the damp.

 

[essexbearhunter]

It might be useful to investigate why so much water is entering the brickwork.

I suspect that the steps or path that forms the roof, instead of shedding the water, is ducting it into the brickwork of the arch which absorbs it like blotting paper. This may simply be due to cracks between the tread and riser (if stairs) or in the bedding for the paving material.

Once your room's "roof" is watertight, ventilation should bring damp to a more reasonable level (and your outside door should be a useful asset on this front as summer approaches).

 

[Greg.hart]

Thanks kinda confirmed what i was thinking as looking at it the concrete covered pier is cracked in places and will have to have a closer look at it and try to plug the gaps.

Kinda feel like this is all I am doing at the moment, just trying to plug all the gaps that are letting in water before it starts getting colder and wetter again.