old cottage

[ojo1]

Recently I bought a cottage built in 1890s that has been ,at various time a shop and off licence. A the rear a good quality cement block parking area has been laid to the back wall and under the front on one half under a large window a concrete base is laid up to the wall. The side facing prevailing weather has earth up to the wall and I have dug down and exposed 3 air bricks, the other other half of the front is fronted by earth,so far I've found no airbricks and nowhere is there a sign of DPC,the wall is solid. There is a a cellar beneath which has heating and is lined, I'd like to keep this dry.
My idea is to lay concrete slabs along the weather side topped by a render skirt with waterproofer, similar to the concrete fronted wall. The other half of the front wall with the earth boundary is the only part of the house not over a cellar so not sure how to treat it , two large plants close to it may be a problem. I know we are on chalk and I'm told by locals that drainage is superb. Sorry to go on but I'm new to this and would appreciate advice ,thank you

 

[ree]

Pics of the front and rear and any side elevations needed, and pics of your test holes.

 

[SilverSaloon]

what is the construction of this old cottage?

concrete may not be suitable

 

[ojo1]

This is standard brick,as I said no sign of DPC but I did dig out the three air bricks along the side wall, I will be searching the front aspect again for any more air bricks as this is the wall where floor joists terminate. In times gone half of the front aspect was a small shop, I believe it had some sort of loading shoot into the cellar and it over this that a concrete pad has been laid tight to the house and boundary walls, it is very substantial and there is no way to remove without damage. I just need to ensure that the junction is not a source for rain to get into the cellar wall below.