A large, century-old secret tunnel large enough to house a ‘grotto-type bathing area’ has been discovered buried underneath a home in Plymouth, UK.
Jake Brown was working on his new Georgian property in Emma Place when he realised one wall underneath his home had a different texture. After a spot of drilling, he was then able to make an opening large enough to fit his head through to take a closer look.
He found a boarded-up tunnel filled with evidence dating back to the early 1900s, and a newspaper suggesting it had been sealed for more than 50 years.
Jake said: "Once I had made two holes, one for viewing, one for a torch, I peered through into the dark dusty expanse and realised that it was another cavern of sorts.
"The cavern had a lot of builders' waste from another era, so I climbed inside to explore and take a closer look. I measured the rough area of the space and observed its structural integrity.
"I was pleased to note that the stone arched ceiling was in great condition and the expanse measured a healthy five metres deep, three metres high, and three metres wide."
Along with bottles and paint cans, Jake’s biggest discovery was the newspaper, which he said almost disintegrated when he touched it.
He continued: "There were little hints; the style of writing, no colour, picture style, currency and then finally a date. What was barely readable was the year 1964, this along with the other pieces of evidence fitted, meaning the cellar had been blocked up for over 50 years."
Armed with evidence, Jake then contacted a historian friend, Richard Fisher.
Richard said: "The whole area before then was a large hill called Windridge Hill. This was quarried away to almost high-tide level, then the houses were built into the hole with cellars, undercrofts.
"However these early cellars, this one looks to be for coal, were built out not only underneath the pavement but out into the road. The load on the roads would have been much lighter than now.
"I have seen these places turned into cellars for beverages, a place to grow mushrooms, and if big enough, a 'grotto' type bathing area."
