Discovered a tunnel into a 17th century house

[ARW]

Today digging holes it was stoney going, so I wasn’t holding back with the metal bar. I smashed through 6 inch of slabs and found this tunnel, it’s about 3x3 ft and ends just where I was digging, there’s no proper lid on it just stoned over, it’s about 2 ft underground. It heads to the old 17th century hall, we don’t know how far it goes, pictures are from my phone with the flash on, we are about 20ft from the house.
Nobody knows about this tunnel, its had the same family in for generations and they aren’t aware of it.

What could it be for?
I will get better pics tomorrow and take a proper torch.

 

[Robert]

Seen stone drainage culverts like that in Scotland though 3' deep seems excessive......

 

[Pilgrimmick]

Priests hole/escape tunnel? Could be very historically significant.

 

[ARW]

Seen stone drainage culverts like that in Scotland though 3' deep seems excessive......

It’s very very dry in a very wet winter!
Or would it be water from the house services like an early soakaway?

 

[ARW]

Priests hole/escape tunnel? Could be very historically significant.

Building is listed but I can’t anything about a tunnel on the details

 

[Pilgrimmick]

Building is listed but I can’t anything about a tunnel on the details

The whole idea was to be secret! Maybe nobody knows.

 

[spin cycle]

that is cool.....hideout i bet

 

[Lincs Lass]

Dont show it to the archaeological wallers ,,they will have it fenced in for the next 6 months

 

[ARW]

Dont show it to the archaeological wallers ,,they will have it fenced in for the next 6 months

These are my thoughts we want to finish the job tomorrow, not start tunnelling!

 

[Northeastfarmer]

My arse would be flapping going in there

 

[Lincs Lass]

These are my thoughts we want to finish the job tomorrow, not start tunnelling!

A load of brick rubble down it ,cover with soil and move on ,,If anybody says anything ,plead ignorance

 

[phillipe]

Could be a vent tunnel

 

[ARW]

I don’t think I will go in, I get slightly claustrophobic if I’m wearing a big hat

 

[Still Farming]

Treasure ???

 

[Paddington]

Sounds exciting ! Could be hidden treasure or skeletons and creepy crawlies..

 

[Spartacus]

Any kids about that'd go up it with a go pro and a torch?

 

[Paddington]

Any kids about that'd go up it with a go pro and a torch?

H&S wouldn't like that, you'd probably need a calibrated length of string round their waist before sticking them down the 'ole.

 

[llamedos]

How interesting, certainly worthy of protection, if you go back in you should be able to find where in the property it would have started.
Given the age of the house you have to think back to the Civil War and all that brought with it, turbulent times. Would not be unusual to have such a tunnel as a means of escape.

 

[ARW]

I think it’s a tunnel from the house as an escape route, it’s the perfect size for a man to crawl through with ease. Taking a torch and draining rods tomorrow. I was hoping it was a tunnel to the pub down the road!

 

[Pilgrimmick]

I think it’s a tunnel from the house as an escape route, it’s the perfect size for a man to crawl through with ease. Taking a torch and draining rods tomorrow. I was hoping it was a tunnel to the pub down the road!

Who knows it may well link two old buildings! Wonder what the pub keeps in it’s cellar these days?