This underground structure at Abbey Wood is under investigation by the Unit, in the back garden of a lovely detached Victorian house.
Near the property to the S.E. is the ancient Chapman’s Lane, now a footpath. The owner had asked BAG to investigate.
Preliminary excavation on the 3rd and 4th of November disclosed the cast iron manhole cover placed on roughly square two courses of brickwork (51cm x47cm)
Below this was a circular four double course of brickwork with an inner aperture of (51cm x 47cm) matching the square above and an overall diameter of approximately 94cm. (Fig 1)
Beneath this “neck” was a widening brick dome and a shaft which was estimated at 9-10 feet in depth with a rubble floor (Fig 2)
About 5ft from the base, a pipe which seemed to have been thrust through the shaft wall as an after thought, at a later date. (Fig 3)
Fig 3
The brickwork of the two courses below the manhole cover was quite crude compared to the courses below. The upper bricks were froged, the circular brick work was finer and rendered on the outside. Torchlight disclosed vertical mortared bricks in the shaft with red and yellow bricks and of varying lengths.
The soil around the structure certainly showed signs of deep cultivation, including numerous small particles of chalk/ lime and some sherds of early pottery.
Excavations continued to further expose the dome of the structure.
Pip had previously arranged that on the 10th of November, Mike Clinch, and Harry Pearman from KURG (Kent Underground Research Group) would come down to see the site.
Harry was first to descend the ladder into the structure and confirmed that the floor was composed largely of broken window glass. He also confirmed the existence of a single entry pipe which appeared to be a later addition. A single RSJ stretched across one side of the structure.
After some discussion with Mike and Harry they both agreed that the structure was a cesspit of unknown depth.
Later our Steve went down and reported that there were four missing bricks at two levels where the “shoulder” of the dome started, presumalely providing slots for planks. Steve also determined that the internal diameter was 71ins (181cm) and that the longest brick used was 9 ins (23 cm)
Harry was the first to go down
There was no sign of the original entry pipe. Later that day Pat also descended for a look and see, (very brave of her).
Further external measurements were taken, once Steve had established the point where the structure went vertical, the overall radius was found to be 44ins (112cm) and by deducting the internal radius 35.1/2 ins (90cm) the thickness of the walls was determined to be 8. 5/8ins (22cm), the same as the brick work of the circular neck.
The 17th of November, Steve, Pat, and Colin, all harnessed up with static safety rope attached, continued the excavation, the depth they where at now was 13 ft (396cm) plus a further 3ft (92cm) with a spike pushed into the soft soil, not hitting any thing solid, On completion it was decided that a longer ladder would be necessary for further excavation, to be undertaken
Finds
Finds emerged by the bucket full, window glass, china, metal, bones, radio valves, part of a gas mask, and numerous intact bottles, Horlicks, Virol, Shippams, and a few poison bottles, All these suggested a mid to late 1940s
Further information on the property was obtained from the deeds etc.
The house was called “mon delice”(my delight ?) and the earliest reference was 1899, but no mention of the any cesspit. The first owner seemed to be a John West, or a William Richard West. The landlords from 1633 were Christ Hospital possibly gifted from Cambridge University at that time.