DIY prison cell

Build a semi buried house on a hillside

[1] cut away hillside to get level building area
[2] put in pile and raft foundations
[3] build walls of cellar
[4] replace earth around cellar
[5-->] complete house

only at stage [3] the keen DIYer put all the materials in the centre of the foundation slab and built the cellar walls from the inside working on step ladders.

And with no door opening in the 9 foot high walls he was trapped inside.

""I didn't want to climb out until the mortar was set""

As this was in New Zealand's summer the night wasn't too uncomfortable.

New Zealand...?
Phew - I thought you were on about Jersey for a minute...

So having built the walls of a cellar how did you water proof it?

I am in the process of building a garage which is half in the hillside and am using a 1200 gauge membrane with a board covering to protect from the shingle backfilling to a 9" conc block reinforced concrete wall.

If you dont water proof it very carefully at this stage you will regret it as water will come in as sure as it rains in England

Good Luck