Any thoughts on the purpose of this hatch ?

[SimonH2]

Anyone like to offer an opinion as to the function of this hatch ? It's clearly been built as a hatch - lined and with trim underneath.
It's on the landing in line with the top of the stairs. Underneath (last photo) there's a sort of shelf at door top level, accessed from the under stairs cupboard. The shelf itself is a cast in place concrete slab, which I put down to being for stability - ties the walls either side of the stairs to the back wall.
At the back is the original rear wall of the house. Next to the air brick would have been a window originally.
1940s ex-council house, with concrete joists upstairs (visible in a couple of the pictures) which is "interesting" to work around.

I'm reflooring the landing, bedroom, and bathroom - replacing the mix (original boards in good condition, or with past woodworm, or butchered by plumbers and electricians, some "rather rotten" boards, and some "weetabix" boards that are a different thickness), plus fixing a rather dodgy bridge to the lounge floor in the extension. So I'm planning on just boarding straight across instead of leaving a removable panel - it'll still be possible to lift boards (they'll be screwed down), just not as easily.

 

[endecotp]

Very interesting. Do the neighbours have the same?

Is there an awkward corner at the bottom of the stairs? Does it make it possible to take e.g. lengths of pipe or timber upstairs that otherwise wouldn’t fit?

Is it directly below the loft hatch?

I’m reminded of someone who posted here asking “how do I replace the ballcock in this tank?” where the tank was tight against the ceiling in an airing cupboard, and one suggestion was that he consider opening the floor of the room above.

 

[aveatry]

Its so if you fancy wheetabix for breakfast and cant be bothered to go all the way downstairs

 

[^woody^]

Pervious heater unit or access to ducts for warm air heater?

 

[blup]

Coal hatch?

 

[Munroast]

a very small Priest Hole

 

[Deluks]

Previous tenant was a drug dealer with excellent carpentry skills.

 

[johnny2007]

Is there any sign of the staircase being replaced or first few steps repaired?
I once visited a property where an uncontrolled leak had destroyed the first 3 steps and as the owners didn't have the money to repair/replace, they opened a hatch on the landing and used a ladder to go upstairs for a few years.
Probably if they replaced the staircase, they left the hatch there.

 

[pete01]

I put one of those at the top of my mother in laws stairs, having said that we've not see her for ages...

 

[SimonH2]

Thanks for the ideas. It's reassuring to know it's not just me that's puzzled by it

I did wonder if it had been left for (e.g.) pouring the concrete to make the slab - but if it was just that, why would they go to the trouble of finishing it off underneath and making a lift out panel, instead of just boarding it over top and bottom ? Besides which, I'm fairly certain they'd have poured the slab when they got to that level of the brickwork.

Do the neighbours have the same?

Good question, I'll have to ask next time I'm talking.

Is there an awkward corner at the bottom of the stairs? Does it make it possible to take e.g. lengths of pipe or timber upstairs that otherwise wouldn’t fit?

No, it's in the front door and straight up the stairs. You'd be very restricted in getting anything long through the hatch as it would need to be fed under the stairs first (which would itself be a tight corner). And there would have been an opening window on the landing (above where Henry is sat) that would have done for that if needed.

Is it directly below the loft hatch?

No again

I’m reminded of someone who posted here asking “how do I replace the ballcock in this tank?” where the tank was tight against the ceiling in an airing cupboard, and one suggestion was that he consider opening the floor of the room above.

One way round it.

Pervious heater unit or access to ducts for warm air heater?

No, no evidence of anything like that. When it was built, I think it was a fireplace in each room for heating.

Coal hatch?

The houses had sheds out the back with a coal bunker built in. I can't be sure, but I suspect that concrete slab went outside and became the shed roof.

Is there any sign of the staircase being replaced or first few steps repaired?
I once visited a property where an uncontrolled leak had destroyed the first 3 steps and as the owners didn't have the money to repair/replace, they opened a hatch on the landing and used a ladder to go upstairs for a few years.
Probably if they replaced the staircase, they left the hatch there.

They'd have to be a very good contortionist to get through our hatch.

 

[Old Salt]

Access to the push fit connectors

 

[Munroast]

obviously joking about priest hole - but it could have just been a hiding place for a secret stash of something

 

[SimonH2]

Access to the push fit connectors

They came afterwards when someone "fitted" central heating. I put "fitted" in quotes as it was ... "a bit rough - especially in the way whoever did it butchered some of the boards. Quite literally, in places the pipes were supporting the board on top

obviously joking about priest hole - but it could have just been a hiding place for a secret stash of something

Not very secret - it's open to the cupboard under the stairs. I use it for stuff, but SWMBO can't reach it so ... hmm, yet a bit of a secret stash
But the thing is, everything looks like it was built to be that way. The timbers on the shorter ends of the hole match the original joists running the longer way, and it all looks like it was intended to be like that.

 

[RrogerD]

Contact the previous owners

 

[stevie888]

Personal lift fitted once upon a time?