Victorian House, subsistence?

[IanM18]

Hi All,

Looking for advice on if I need to panic or not. Totally accept I’ll need to get someone in to look at this rather than internet strangers, but would appreciate thoughts from the expert community.

House is old c1900s, not noticed before, but just below the 1st floor window, looks like a crack has formed along the mortar, only one or two bricks, but clearly not right.

Have checked everywhere else around the property, and no sign of any further cracks, or any visible “wonkyness” of mortar lines.

Thinking probable subsidence? Very sandy soil around here, and when it rains, the street drains get blocked, and cellar can flood.

So thinking that may lead to some issues, as Victorian houses were not really built on proper foundations.

Any thoughts?

 

[RandomGrinch]

 

[^woody^]

Victorian houses were not really built on proper foundations.

And yet there are thousands and thousands of them still standing with no problems - including that one by the looks of it

 

[IanM18]

Yes, still standing for now….

 

[Mottie]

Are those bricks poking out from the wall?

 

[IanM18]

Are those bricks poking out from the wall?

The ones above, yes, it’s like a series of decorative square panels just under the 1st floor window, that slightly sit forward than the rest of the brickwork

 

[Mottie]

The ones above, yes, it’s like a series of decorative square panels just under the 1st floor window, that slightly sit forward than the rest of the brickwork

Oh, okay - I thought they were falling out!

 

[cdbe]

Make sure whoever points that up uses some dye.

 

[RonnyRaygun]

The photo doesn't really show anything. We need to see the whole elevation to see where the crack begins and ends.
However, if the photo is showing the full length of the crack it doesn't look like anything significant.
Significant subsidence cracks would begin / end at or very close to ground level and probably run to the corner of a window, possibly through to the other corner before continuing. They would also taper, usually getting wider towards the top.

 

[Lower]

Would be useful to see a photo from further away to see what is above and below the cracked area.

 

[IanM18]

I’ll post a wider shot later tonight when back from work

Cheers everyone

 

[Lower]

Is there a window below the crack and has it been replaced?

 

[IanM18]

Is there a window below the crack and has it been replaced?

Yes, a flipping big one. Used to be old wood window, now it’s UPVC. Was done about 15 odd years ago

 

[Nige F]

Yes, a flipping big one. Used to be old wood window, now it’s UPVC. Was done about 15 odd years ago

that's very likely the cause of the crack

 

[Lower]

Yes, a flipping big one. Used to be old wood window, now it’s UPVC. Was done about 15 odd years ago

There's your answer. There's probably no lintel above the window and the wooden window was supporting the brickwork. The UPVC window either isn't strong enough or if bay poles or internal supports were fitted, it wasn't packed correctly to support the brick work so it's dropped slightly.