Timber base to inner leaf of cavity???

[boustred]

Anyone had experience of removing/replacing old timbers that run along the base of the inner leaf of a cavity wall?

I have noticed a damp timber when replacing air bricks and clearing cavities. This timber runs along the bottom of the opening in the inner leaf, with brick course above it. The opening is about 3 brick lengths and there are two half bricks propping it up. I can't tell how far along this timber extends - all looks a bit of a victorian bodge to me!?

Other air brick openings around the house do not have this, they have simply a brick taken out, with no timber below..?[/img]

 

[noseall]

in bygone days it was standard practice to build in fixing blocks of timber local to door and window openings.

these would be the same end-on dimensions as a brick, made from oak or similar and would be a couple of bricks in length.

hope this helps?

 

[JohnD]

I've often seen timber lintels over doors and windows, might this opening ever have been e.g. a cellar window or a coal chute?