What's this pipe?

[returnButton]

Hi. Digging the front for a path here and discovered this which has ruined my plans today. What is it?! Drainage? Gas?

It looks like it's been lopped at the top (badly) and filled with cement. I need to take it down a bit lower but I can't really without knowing what it is.

As you can see it's quite near the pavement. It must have been just below the topsoil which is why it wasn't visible before. I can't imagine why something would have been removed from here as it's quite a modern house (circa 2002).

Thanks for ideas!

 

[DAZB]

You don't mention the size but it looks like a standard 110mm drainage soil pipe so it could be just an offcut that has been backfilled or it may have had a cover on for a rodding eye or a seperate branch to a previous drain. Best try to clear it out and see how deep it goes and in what direction and maybe dig around it a little to see where it heads.

 

[jj4091]

Is that a metal frame around it and is it rectangular. It could be an old inspection chamber that has been filled in badly.

 

[Mottie]

Every front garden down our road has one of them in the front corner of their gardens. Our houses were built in 1960. I have no idea what they are for. Some people have left theirs open, many including myself have just covered them up and buried them. Nobody has ever had any problems to my knowledge and we’ve been here 35 years.

 

[robinbanks]

If it's 110mm I'd just take a stihl saw to it and cut the top 4 inches off. If you're nervous, drill, cut the plastic away first and see if it's still concrete 4 inches down, cut slots vertically and break em off

 

[returnButton]

Excellent advice thank you everyone. It's 110mm yes, and plastic. Seems hollow so at least not full of water. I'll do some tentative drilling today and report back..

 

[Mottie]

Every front garden down our road has one of them in the front corner of their gardens. Our houses were built in 1960. I have no idea what they are for. Some people have left theirs open, many including myself have just covered them up and buried them. Nobody has ever had any problems to my knowledge and we’ve been here 35 years.

I left the hose running down there for ages many years ago. It never did fill up.

 

[Alec_t]

If you do cut it off, it might be advisable to re-seal the remainder to prevent it becoming a way in for rats.

 

[endecotp]

Every front garden down our road has one of them in the front corner of their gardens. Our houses were built in 1960. I have no idea what they are for.

Disused septic tank?

 

[Mottie]

Disused septic tank?

Nah, we're all on mains drainage. Might be something to do (vent?) for the rainwater drainage from the roofs. The drainpipes just disappear into the ground.

 

[cdbe]

If you have deep drains it could be the top of a drop shaft/backdrop arrangement (they aren't always inside an IC) but should have some kind of access arrangement - nice cover or old paving slab. I have one in a flower bed.