Team of builders unearth an exciting discovery in Malmesbury

Technical building specialist Darren Smith, of D.M.SMITHS LTD, started working on Malmesbury parish councillor Robert Hastings' cellar in April when he stumbled across what he believes to be the oldest well in the town.

Mr Hastings, an IT business analyst, recently moved into a house in Cross Hayes, Malmesbury and wanted to transform the cellar, which was dark and damp, into a so-called man cave.

When he bought the property two years ago there were rumours about a well but he thought this was just speculation.

The discovery was made after the pair spotted a small hole in the cellar floor - when Darren put a tiny camera inside they could see light reflections against water.

An inscription of PJB 1964 in the cement next indicated that the well had been capped nearly 60 years ago.

Since then, the flooring has been ripped up and the team have started working on restoring the well.

The well in Cllr Robert Hastings' home (Image: Darren Smith)

There are many questions surrounding the discovery - and the pair have been in contact with local historians.

History lover Darren has been diving into the shaft in four-hour shifts, emptying rubble and draining water to see how far down it goes.

It is currently 22ft deep - deeper than the other known wells in the town - and there's no sign of the bottom yet.

So far the team have found fragments of pottery, an ancient hair pin, a tiny fishing hook broach, a coin and an arrow-head which they plan to give to the Athelstan Museum.

Darren Smith climbing down the well (Image: Darren Smith)

Darren said: "I love my job, I wake up excited to go to work every day, excited about what I might discover.

"It would have been cheaper for Robert to have the well covered up with a piece of concrete but he cares about the history.

"This is an important part of Malmesbury's history.

"My heart and belief in my research tells me something more is there.

"Only when we hit the bottom of the well will we truly understand it."

Darren in his wetsuit and snorkel ready to go down the well (Image: Darren Smith)

Mr Hastings said: "This is a once in a lifetime find.

"The well is so beautiful, the stonework is in perfect condition.

"Darren's team are going to replace the bottom, put lights and clear water into it and then put glass on the top.

Cllr Robert Hasting ready to go down the well (Image: Darren Smith)

"There are so many unanswered questions - how old is the well? What was here before the house?" Why did people throw so much junk down there?

"I went down there myself and the water was freezing but it was a once in a lifetime experience.

"Not many people can say they have been diving in their own house.

"Darren has been amazing, his passion for history is infectious."

Darren is filming the progress and has started a YouTube channel which can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=lr2KvQD74sY