James, what is the black stuff on the grill made of? Would it come off? I would have thought that getting the grill off first would be the easiest beginning, if it's possible. I imagine the inside will be pretty disappointing after 50+ years. Other thoughts - if it's viable and doesn't contain a zombie / mad cousin / bomb - could it still work as a smoker, pizza oven, chiminea? It's a piece of local history, lol.
We'll all be waiting with baited breath! My OH reckons it's an old beer barrel, upside down and covered with concrete. But why? Mind you could it be over an old well? Best be cautious.
I can't rest easy until I know. I wonder whether the concrete is covering the barrel or the concert was poured into the barrel which was then removed. If it was a smoker or similar surely it would need access to get into it (unless it upside down and there is a hole at the other side, but then why would it be concreted to the ground like that)
Hosta, my thoughts too - looks exactly like a plastic water barrel and also just doesn't look aged enough to have been there 45 years. I can't wait to find out - couldn't we all go to James' house tonight and give him a hand?
It does look like a concreted Harcostar water butt, upside down. I think maybe they took a barrel and repurposed it, as it has that air flow hole and some kind of metal container in the middle. I can only imagine them concreting over something that they didn't want tampered with, which is my worry as I hammer it.
Have you checked the Ordnance Survey data for your house? Maybe a well or something would be shown which would give you a clue. Is your water supply from the mains? Also might be worth checking the drainage plans for the property to see if they show anything under the barrel. No smell coming from the vent I assume? It can't be anything serious or the purchase surveys would have picked it up. It also clearly isn't something that would ever require access for maintenance.
I'm trying to work out how they cast it. The top looks moulded rather than smooth so it looks like it could have been cast the other way up, but it must be very heavy so that would seem a strange way to do it. The air brick looks like it was cast as part of the concrete by the way it overlaps so they must have managed to wedge it against the side of the barrel. It seems like they took a water butt, put something hollow and metal in the middle (maybe sat onto that metal bar) wedged an air brick between the metal and side of the butt and poured concrete in. Then they cut the plastic off, turned it upside down, put it over something that needed venting and cemented it in place. Or the vent was already in place and they cast the barrel mould around it. Why they didn't just build it out of bricks or blocks though I have no idea.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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Not that that helps anything.
Maybe it's an early Rachel Whiteread?
I still think a smoker is a possibility ... concrete to stop urban foxes making off with the salmon or side of bacon or whatever ...
Have the local press been informed?
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm trying to work out how they cast it. The top looks moulded rather than smooth so it looks like it could have been cast the other way up, but it must be very heavy so that would seem a strange way to do it. The air brick looks like it was cast as part of the concrete by the way it overlaps so they must have managed to wedge it against the side of the barrel. It seems like they took a water butt, put something hollow and metal in the middle (maybe sat onto that metal bar) wedged an air brick between the metal and side of the butt and poured concrete in. Then they cut the plastic off, turned it upside down, put it over something that needed venting and cemented it in place. Or the vent was already in place and they cast the barrel mould around it. Why they didn't just build it out of bricks or blocks though I have no idea.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.