I recently discovered a 6ft by 3ft concrete slab under the flooring in my 1920s house in the UK while fixing a creaky floorboard. The rest of the kitchen has original pine floorboards, but this slab is at the same level as the rest of the flooring and was covered by Lino. Underneath, there's a low brick wall that runs along the length of the kitchen, with another wall parallel to it about 30cm from the internal wall. There's also a perpendicular wall starting where the concrete slab begins. The slab doesn't seem to rest on the brick walls, as there's a wooden lintel, hardcore, and then the concrete. Since it's too large to be a former fireplace and the walls lack ventilation holes, I'm curious if this is common in houses from that era and if anyone has insights on what this could be. Thanks!
2 Answers
It's tricky to visualize from just a description! Concrete slabs like that can sometimes indicate older structures, like covered wells or old porches converted into living space. It’s possible that someone just left utilities there without moving them when the house was built. It could also be older than the house itself. I'd recommend investigating more underneath or even reaching out to a local historian for more context.
I had a similar situation once! I suspect there may have been a heavy solid-fuel range at one point, which could explain the concrete's presence. I ended up grinding it down and using it as a decorative base for a table. I think it's not uncommon in older homes for the builders to have poured concrete over joists to create a sturdy surface for heavier fixtures like bathtubs or stoves. The history adds character to the space!
That makes perfect sense! I’ve heard that was a common practice in older homes here too—to ensure a flat surface that can handle weight. It’s a great idea to repurpose it like that!
Thanks for the input! I’ll see if I can find more details about it. It definitely doesn’t seem to be just a random slab.