Did it used to have a cellar?

[SPOODZ]

I've recently moved into a 1890's end terrace. Several of the houses on parallel and adjecent roads have cellars, but on pulling up a few floor boards mine appears to be full of loose rubble. Where can I find out if there used to be a cellar, and if it is safe to remove the rubble? I dont think its the sort of thing a builder would know, but I dont know who I should talk to about it.

Thanks

 

[breezer]

council planning / records office?

 

[Porker]

My brother recently bought a 1970-80's semi which had been extended to the side roughly doubling the size of it from a builder who was going through a divorce. After doing some work on the electrics he pulled up a floorboard and found an entire room complete with concrete staircase into a large basement complete with plastered walls and ceiling, skirtings etc. The problem was the water, about 2 inches on the concrete floor. He reckons the builder just floored over the lot when he found it leaked. Incidentally the second storey ceilings are so low they will not take a standard wardrobe door which I believe doesn't conform to building regs. Anyone know what the ceiling height should be?

 

[Thermo]

try the local library or your deeds, it may have some mention on there, also ask the neighbours. Work out the geography of the house, does it go out from the house under the pavement? there may be a small access hatch where the coal used to be delivered, or some cellar windows that were bricked up