During the Victorian era, properties were commonly built with a small space below ground level. This cellar was designed for storage. Families would use the space to store coal, wood or other fuels during the winter months, while in summer the space might be used to keep things cool.
What are cellars used for?
A cellar is a room below ground level in a house that is often only used for storing wine or coal, it is used for a specific purpose.
How were Victorian cellars built?
In small buildings the cellars were simply covered by the timber ground floor and ceilings of lath and plaster, but in larger houses arches and barrel vaults were often used to enable the floor above to be paved.
How do you know if you have a cellar?
If there’s a cellar,there must be stairs down to it somewhere and chances are they are still there,sounds like the doorway’s just been blocked off. Do a bit more digging,the original doorway will be around somewhere. Cellars were usually accessed from the kitchen,running underneath the stairs to the first floor.
What was inside a Victorian house?
There would be heavy curtains, flowery wallpaper, carpets and rugs, ornaments, well made furniture, paintings and plants. The rooms were heated by open coal fires and lighting was provided by candles and oil or gas lamps.
Why did old houses have cellars?
Cellars were designed for storage at a time when natural methods were required to extend the life of food for survival, or to hold goods and fuel.
Why do homes have cellars?
Foundations ought to lie below the frost line so that piping that runs through them won’t freeze and crack. In cold climates, the frost line is usually several feet below the ground. This explains why northern homes have basements.
Do cellars get damp?
Cellars are often damp and unusable beyond storing the odd bottle of wine and old tin of paint. If you want to make full use of your cellar or basement, then you will need to keep it dry. Tanking systems provide an impermeable waterproofing coating to the walls and floor, helping keep cellars dry.
Do cellars cause damp?
Whether you call it a basement or a cellar, both spaces face the same problem – because they are mostly underground, they have an increased risk of damp. Moisture problems in basements are quite common and because the areas may not be frequently used, homeowners leave the problem alone.
Why don t British houses have cellars?
Except for Britain, Australia and New Zealand, cellars are popular in most western countries. In the United Kingdom, almost all new homes built since the 1960s have no cellar or basement due to the extra cost of digging down further into the sub-soil and a requirement for much deeper foundations and waterproof tanking.
Should you buy a house with a cellar?
The cellar is important because it can reveal clues such as major cracks that suggest structural issues or show signs of flooding. The main fuse box may be in the cellar as well and this can be a dead give-away as to whether the house needs rewiring.
Do cellars have drains?
Drainage channels are installed around the perimeter of a basement or cellar. They feature a number of holes that allow any water from the cavity drain membrane to enter the channel. These perimeter drainage channels then efficiently disperse this water to a sump chamber.
Did Victorian houses have cellars?
By the end of the Victorian era, many houses had gas. A basement with a cellar for the storage of coal, required for open fires and to heat water. Sash windows but with larger panes of glass, from the 1850s, than the characteristic 6 plus 6 smaller panes seen in Georgian and Regency architecture.
Why did Victorian houses have secret rooms?
Before they were a fun architectural addition to new homes, hidden rooms and secret passages served a purpose. Most often, that purpose was to allow someone to hide or escape from some kind of danger.
Do Victorian houses have basements?
As is typical of old Victorian homes, ours dated to 1890, the original basement appeared to be more dungeon-like than anything.
Why do Victorian houses have downstairs bathrooms?
When bathrooms became stand-alone rooms, they were often located at the back of the house, as out of the way as possible, to deal with sewer smells. Once the S-Bend was invented, and plumbing could keep the smells out, bathrooms could move around, and often were located under stairs or in former dressing rooms.
Can you fill in a cellar?
Yes, it can be filled in. Check that it is not being used as a place to allow ventilation. If it is, you will need to make sure that you either leave a gap for the air to circulate or make other arrangements for ventilation, like adding a ventilation brick higher up, above the filled in cellar.
How do you get rid of damp in a cellar?
8 Ways to Dry Out a Damp Basement
- Install a Dehumidifier.
- Ventilate the Area.
- Reseal Your Concrete.
- Attend to Air Leaks.
- See to Downspouts and Grading Issues Outside.
- Inspect Driveways and Other Outdoor Construction Features.
- Air Out Wet Items Elsewhere.
- Check Your Vents, Including Your Dryer Vent.
Can cellars be used as bedrooms?
Many people are choosing to convert their cellars into extra bedrooms. Whether your family is growing or you’re in need of a guest room, transforming your cellar is certainly an easier and more affordable option than moving to a new house.
Is it common for cellars to flood?
Causes of basement flooding
Because the majority of basements and cellars are partially, if not fully, below ground level they are naturally prone to water ingress – the act of water infiltrating something. If your house is built on a low-lying or a high water table area, basement flooding can be a common problem.
Are cellars safe during a tornado?
If you have a basement or storm cellar, that may be the safest place to be in a tornado. Basements are underground and offer more protection than any other room in your home. Find a sturdy object to hide underneath, such as a workbench. Be aware of what is above you in your house.