Need some advice

[Wheelah23]

ORIGINAL: RICKJJ59W

I heard of people on the fourm digging privys in basments but that was in big city's where they (lacked room) to put an outhouse. You seem to have  lots of room out there,

I was just going to say this. This exact fact was specifically mentioned in my AP U.S. History textbook! I thought "Hey, privies being mentioned in a history textbook! Wooh!"

 

[ticoun]

ORIGINAL: MichaelFla

being in a country house like that i doubt it's a privy, but maybe an ash pit for the coal furnace?

 

[JOETHECROW]

More likely a cistern?

 

[toddrandolph]

It's not uncommon around here to have a basement cistern, but I've never seen a square one.

 

[MichaelFla]

We thought it might be a cistern, but it is located immediately under the front doors, and that wall is solid, as are the two adjoining brick walls. It seems unlikely, since there is not really a route for water to enter. Also, there is a large spring across the main road that was the water source for the house.