Well well well

This is apparently a 'bottle well' (with thanks to John from the Kent Underground Research Group for helping me with research). It acts as a cistern or a tank and collects water from the surrounding areas - hence the pipework - and is not a groundwell, which would hold water coming up from a spring.

The big worry is the ash tree that is behind it has started to disturb the surface brickwork (top photo). How on earth am I going to a. get rid of the tree and b. turn this into a feature? John tells me that it would be worth getting a pump into the well to empty it of water and then descending with a bucket to clean out the debris that has gathered at the bottom. Any volunteers?

I quite fancy putting an old fashioned hand pump on top and restoring it to a water supply for that area of the garden. Its where we want to have the Glade - a open area within the woodland where we could have a Bell Tent and firepit. A water source for washing hands, dishes, making tea might be good. Better also test the water!