A family were shocked to make a historical find when digging up their back garden.

Hannah Raistrick and her husband Tony were planning to landscape their lawn when they came across a large patch of concrete under an oddly-shaped flower bed.

After pulling it up, their crowbar disappeared into a large opening at their Gore Court Road, Sittingbourne garden.

They immediately stuck a camera down the hole and found a broken staircase leading down to the right.

Moving their digging to the top of the staircase, and creating a huge hole, Hannah sent her father, Steve Durden down the narrow gap and into the chamber.

They discovered a four metre hallway leading to a small round room with a dome, which lies directly under their children’s climbing frame.

Mum-of-two Hannah’s initial thoughts turned to it being an ice house, as it seems too small to be air raid shelter, and the bricks matched those used to build their house.

Video: Secret room unveiled under garden

It is also possible it could be from the old site of Gore Court House, which was demolished in 1926 before their house was constructed in the 1930s.

The 36-year-old said: “We never thought we’d find something like this but my brother was on the climbing frame directly above it once and said it sounded hollow underground after jumping off the swing.

“I’m not worried about it being under the climbing frame, as the fact that it’s been there for at least 70 years means it can last a bit longer.”

The family, who have lived there since 2012, are eager to find out what exactly it could be.

Hannah added: “A man who used to live in our house got in contact with us six months after we moved in, who had lived here in the war and he told me all about what it was like when he was there.

“He told us plenty about an old mechanics yard down the side of the house which we’ve found bits from and lots of other things but didn’t mention an air raid shelter, which he probably would have known about.”

Ice houses were used before the invention of the refrigerator to keep food cool.
Often underground, they contained lots of ice and were well insulated in order to regulate the temperature.

They were common throughout the 1700s and up until the late 1800s, and were reserved for the higher classes in society due to construction costs and the price of ice.

They typically consist of an underground building, often round and domed, with drainage at the bottom for melted ice and a vent at the top.

The family plan to cover up the entrance for safety, but still keep it accessible.

They have contacted Sittingbourne Heritage Museum to see if they can find out more about its history.

Can you help? If so email pjeffery@thekmgroup.co.uk