Concrete thing in the way of hole for in-ground trampoline

devison

Hi,

I rolled my sleeves up today and started digging a hole for an in-ground trampoline.

Unfortunately I unearthed a concrete sump/septic-tank/tombstone in the hole, just 200mm deep. See 3 pics: https://imgur.com/a/ueJwL5w. (Edited to have proper link - previously I wasn't able to post a link).

Our house is on the sewer main, but it doesn't run through that location. It's a 1920s house, backing onto a Victorian Terrace, so could be something old which isn't in use any more.

What do you think this is?

Any advice on what to do? Ideally I would remove it somehow, but not sure if that's possible.

Any suggestions much appreciated!!

Thanks.

drunkmonkey

Could be a few things, first thought would be an old septic tank, the second was the ark of the covenant.

Lumen

Car99

If you tap it does it sound hollow ?

Dtp1979

It’s a lid. Did you try and lift it off?

Edit. Eeek, kinda looks like the lid of a tomb!!

frash

https://imgur.com/a/ueJwL5w

When you open up that drain access nearby in the 3rd pick are there drains running in the direction of the hole?

devison

Ok, thanks all for feedback.

This morning before work I had another scrape at it and discovered it is four equal sized concrete blocks, so very much looks like a cover.

See updated pic here: https://imgur.com/uBFVGcT (again, updated link since now I can post one - previously had a space in it)

Car99 wrote: »

If you tap it does it sound hollow ?

Not really, it's very solid.

Dtp1979 wrote: »

It’s a lid. Did you try and lift it off?

Not yet, will try this evening...

frash wrote: »

When you open up that drain access nearby in the 3rd pick are there drains running in the direction of the hole?

Very good question. I don't think so, but will check this evening.

Mena Mitty

Just looking at the photgraphs and wondering could it be the covering on an old well. Be careful whatever you intend doing. One thing for sure it was there for a purpose.

Melodeon

Danzy

Possibly a junction for sewer or water pipes.

May be left over from a previous build, may not.

FFred

Aw don’t tell me we have to wait until OP gets home from work this evening to lift the blocks . I NEED to find out what’s underneath NOW !!!

salmocab

And follows out of pure nosiness.

HeidiHeidi

It's the "I found a safe" thread all over again!

foxy farmer

Melodeon wrote: »

The way that has been exposed and cleaned makes it look like something in an archaeological dig.
The suspense is killing me.

beertons

Subbed.

I'm going with water. Looks like a well covering to me.

cruizer101

How did you go to the effort of cleaning the dirt around all the blocks without trying to lift the first one, thats some self control.
If it was me as soon as I realised it was a block I couldn't of stopped myself from trying to lift it up.

Edit to add: At a guess I'd say there is nothing under them, they were put there as a bit of a path and at some point topsoil or a new grass sod was being added to the garden and whoever was doing it wasn't arsed digging them out, still wouldn't stop me trying to lift them mind.

salmocab

beertons wrote: »

Subbed.

I'm going with water. Looks like a well covering to me.

Now look I’m all for speculation but I think we can all agree it should be of the fantasmigorical type at this stage.
I’m going for underground bunker with the mummified remains of Charles Haughey.

frash

Where is the house roughly?
The surrounding houses seem quiet Georgian

Not meaning to be jovial about this but none of them were "Catholic institutions" were they? e.g. Tuam

Borderfox

The Ark. If it is there, at Tanis, then it is something that man was not meant to disturb. Death has always surrounded it. It is not of this earth.

Alun

Given the urban location from the first photos I'd say a well is pretty unlikely. Maybe foundations for a wall or shed / that's long since gone?

@OP, just lift one of the damn things and see what's underneath if anything.

ED E

frash wrote: »

Where is the house roughly?
The surrounding houses seem quiet Georgian

Not meaning to be jovial about this but none of them were "Catholic institutions" were they? e.g. Tuam

Looks very very Rathgar/Rathmines to me.

Wildly Boaring

Looks like an old septic tank but you say old public sewer nearby.

I'd still guess sewerage of some kind- old manhole or some such


Also to fit in: Tunnel to Newgrange?

drunkmonkey

Careful around it in case the ground gives way, a part of the back yard caved in my grans house years ago turned out it was a tunnel to a nearby church we think, dad just filled it in with gravel as quick as he could before anyone got wind of it.
It was timber framed inside the tunnel. When you lift one of those blocks make sure your not on you own and be cautious of fumes.

devison

Something I'm pondering - was the fourth slab moved by someone above, or something underneath trying to get out... :-)

sbsquarepants

drunkmonkey wrote: »

When you lift one of those blocks make sure your not on you own.

Also make sure you have some one on stand by who knows about ancient Egypt, Rachel Wyse would be my suggestion. I'd be very surprised if a mummy doesn't come out of there and try to take over the world - bleeding divils so they are!

Also - what stops your trampoline pit filling with water? I assume you need to run a drain from it?

I'm half toying with the idea, they look great when finished (in reality though I'm probably too lazy to dig the hole!)

FishOnABike

They only look to be no more than the size of a standard concrete block. If it's a grave it could be a leprechaun's. Be careful you're not cursed by the little people ;-)

opti76

god damn it ... im now invested in this.

FrancieBrady

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Careful around it in case the ground gives way, a part of the back yard caved in my grans house years ago turned out it was a tunnel to a nearby church we think, dad just filled it in with gravel as quick as he could before anyone got wind of it.
It was timber framed inside the tunnel. When you lift one of those blocks make sure your not on you own and be cautious of fumes.

Yep...second this. You never know what might be under you. I am lucky to be still around after finding this old pit with a dump truck in my garden.

Lady Haywire

I live in an old house here (albeit in Leitrim) and that looks very like what covers the septic tank here, though there's also a small hole to let gas out. Though as that's not going to be in use with your house now, it could have just been closed up for safety reasons.

Borderfox

Would this not be better placed in After Hours where some proper speculation could take place ?

punisher5112

I'm in.... Popcorn in microwave.....

Mrnew

the OP needs to take a half day from work and find out what it is I cant wait.

drunkmonkey

Borderfox wrote: »

Would this not be better placed in After Hours where some proper speculation could take place ?

Will you stop they'll have Shergar in there before you know it followed by 100 pages of fighting over what gender he was. Drew Harris will eventually get blamed for it all and most of us will end up with infractions.

ChuckLarry

Borderfox wrote: »

Would this not be better placed in After Hours where some proper speculation could take place ?

No them lot would ruin it haha

Pataman

Oh for Gods sake, open it up now.
Intrigued

BTW I was told by someone when I said I was going to sink my trampoline was that it caused a loud noise each time someone bounced!
NO idea if thats pub talk or not

Spanish Eyes

I'm with a pp who speculated that it is part of a previous path across the garden.

But I'm in, and a bit over invested too! You never know....

Odyssey 2005

That's a lovely hole you have there OP .
Are you a grave digger by trade. ?

theteal

So, eh, is nobody going to suggest another mass putting the trampoline somewhere else????

Also, no old convents/laundries around there by any chance?

B-D-P--

theteal wrote: »

So, eh, is nobody going to suggest another mass putting the trampoline somewhere else????

Also, no old convents/laundries around there by any chance?

This far beyond putting trampoline there,
We want to know whats in the mystery box!

DavyD_83

drunkmonkey wrote: »

.

Rolf Harris was involved?
Could be all sorts in this mystery box. Careful the rumours don't get it of have before solid facts are released

What if under the stones there is a room with a safe on it?
This could be the greatest thread of all time!

Up Donegal

O.P. will you just go out and lift the *$&£$*& ing blocks!??

TheRiverman

If I discovered a cover/ concrete slab etc.in my garden would I post about it on Boards.ie or anywhere online ? No.Funny old world.

salmocab

Up Donegal wrote: »

O.P. will you just go out and lift the *$&£$*& ing blocks!??

I hope there are more blocks underneath but ever so slightly smaller

Up Donegal

TheRiverman wrote: »

If I discovered a cover/ concrete slab etc.in my garden would I post about it on Boards.ie or anywhere online ? No.Funny old world.

Me neither - the first thing I would do is lift or move the cover/slab/blocks to see what lies beneath and then take it from there.

Springfields

Pataman wrote: »

Oh for Gods sake, open it up now.
Intrigued

BTW I was told by someone when I said I was going to sink my trampoline was that it caused a loud noise each time someone bounced!
NO idea if thats pub talk or not

Pub talk - pretty much no noise at all when it's sunk..

gozunda

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

It's the "I found a safe" thread all over again!

Worse than that!

The last poster who went to investigate a hole was never heard of ever again... :eek:

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057876630/1/

Waiting in anticipation...

Up Donegal

gozunda wrote: »

Worse than that!

The last poster who went to investigate a hole was never heard of ever again... :eek:

https://touch.boards.ie/thread/2057876630/1/

Waiting in anticipation...

He must have beem wearing steel toe-capped boots!

https://ifunny.co/picture/man-digs-12ft-deep-hole-without-realising-his-metal-detector-pM7Q3dKd6

jmBuildExt

Springfields wrote: »

Pub talk - pretty much no noise at all when it's sunk..

And judging by your name, you're rightly placed to know

muffler

Pataman wrote: »

Oh for Gods sake, open it up now.

Up Donegal wrote: »

O.P. will you just go out and lift the *$&£$*& ing blocks!??

ffs give the guy a chance to get his days work done first unlike some folks :rolleyes:

Doctors room ghost

I’d say an old sh1t express pipe to a septic tank that someone broke the tops of the pipes with a machine by accident and bridged the tops with a row of blocks.

Dtp1979

I don’t think they’re your standard 4” blocks that are on top. If they were, I’m
Sure the op would’ve lifted one. It’s obviously a passage way to an underground series of tunnels. Surely you’ve seen the Goonies.