Today it's really blocked - I've ladled all the water out into a bucket but the blockage is further down - I've poked a thin stick through the grate and can feel that it's silted up so I thought it would be a simple matter of lifting off the grate and getting my hand (gloved) down there but the grate seems completely solid. I thought it would come off to allow access to the clay pipe but could it be cemented in place? I don't want to pull on something I shouldn't be pulling and end up with a real mess.
I'm fairly certain that it's a problem with this drain specifically rather than anything further down. but if I can't get this grate off is there anything I can buy to help get rid of the blockage? I was looking at the 'drain snake' type things at toolstation/screwfix but they seem to be for indoor blockages.
Any suggestions much appreciated.