Grandfather finds 500-year-old well 17ft deep under living room carpet

Ross McGuinness
CATERS NEWS (PICTURED - Colin Steer sat on the edge of his well) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
Colin Steer sat on the edge of the well he discovered under his home in Plymouth, Devon. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)

A grandfather has uncovered a 17ft deep well under his living room floor.

Colin Steer believes the find may date back to medieval times, which could make it 500 years old.

The 70-year-old has spent the last decade digging out the well after he found it while redecorating the living room of his home in Plymouth, Devon.

He noticed a dip in the floor while carrying out DIY, which led him to uncover the well.

While digging it out, Steer found what he thinks is the leather casing of a sword, which he believes could date the structure to the 1500s.

CATERS NEWS (PICTURED- Colin admits that when he eventually reaches the bottom of the well he would love to extend it out of the ground and turn it into a coffee table) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
Colin Steer found the well while redecorating his living room. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)
CATERS NEWS (PICTURED - The 17ft medieval well in Colin Steer's living room) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
The 17ft well under Colin Steer's living room. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)

"Around 10 years ago we were doing some decorating and I was replacing floor joists when I noticed the floor dipped near the bay window in our front room,” he said.

"I immediately thought someone must have buried someone under there or that we had a sinkhole.

"Since that moment, I decided I was going to dig it out and see what I would find.

"The hole is currently 17ft deep and there is about another four or five-foot that I want to dig out when I eventually get round to it.”

Steer said there is about 4ft of water at the bottom of the well, making future digging a muddy process.

"I don't think my wife, Vanessa, would be too keen if I got that all over our front room,’ he said.

"Although she does find the whole thing very interesting too."

He said he would eventually like to extend the walls of the well into the living room and turn it into a coffee table.

CATERS NEWS (PICTURED- A ring and a coin that Colin Steer Has found under his house) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
A ring and a coin found by Colin Steer in the well under his home. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)
CATERS NEWS (PICTURED- A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
Colin Steer, 70, found the well under his home in Plymouth, Devon, 10 years ago. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)

"I think it would be a great feature for our front room,” he said.

Steer has found a coin from 1725 in the well while excavating, and believes the depth of the structure means it could have been used for feeding animals or up to three families.

The hole in the couple’s living room is covered by a sheet of Perspex and a trapdoor.

Their grandchildren love to look through to enjoy the unique feature, Steer said.

CATERS NEWS (PICTURED - Colin Steer sitting beside the well in his living room) - A grandad has spent the last decade digging out a 17ft deep medieval well in his living room after noticing a slight dip in the floor when redecorating. Colin Steer, from Plymouth, discovered the well after he noticed a dip in the floor while redecorating his living room ten years ago and has since spent the last decade digging out the 17ft well. The 70-year-old believes that the well could date back to medieval times after discovering an old sword while digging out the well and plans of the site suggests that the well could date back to the 1500s. Colin said:
Colin Steer would like to turn the well into a coffee table feature. (Caters) (WILLIAM LAILEY / CATERS NEWS)

"It is a good thing to show off to people as it is not something that you see everyday,” he said.

"I have actually even tried some of the water that is at the bottom of the well. It was really clear and tasted fine to me.

"I am going to get it tested for bacteria and if everything came back good then I could even bottle it up and sell it."

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