Brick up or leave air vent?

[LukesLog]

I am pointing and levelling(lime) this interior wall on my solid brick 1850s property, replacing a horrible sand cement mix and concrete render.

Ive removed a white plastic vent cover to find this black tube which would vent to outside if it weren't for the plastic bags put in to block it up(presumably to stop windy weather coming through).

The exterior vent it actually slightly out of line and you can see how the interior pipes are out of line with each other also.

My question is, should I just remove the pipe and brick up the space before my levelling coat, or is reinstating it with a closeable vent cover a good option?

Am I invited moisture into the wall, or out of it?

Thank you.

 

[Cubist]

Remove the plastic pipes and brick up the holes from each side to leave an air gap in the middle. Point up and plaster as normal. Unlikely to induce much in the way of moisture capture from any direction.

 

[Kearn]

Certainly doesn’t look like an attempt to vent a sub floor space given its height, so what on earth was the reason for the effort of inserting it?!

 

[LukesLog]

Certainly doesn’t look like an attempt to vent a sub floor space given its height, so what on earth was the reason for the effort of inserting it?!

At a guess, It will have been put in at the same time as the other ineffective damp proofing methods, alongside the concrete render and exterior plinth!
It will be quite difficult to brick up on the exterior side and would leave a hole in the exterior render.

Im tempted to put it back in but cover it with a pretty closeable vent. It wont help much but it cant hurt much either?

 

[paulc]

Certainly doesn’t look like an attempt to vent a sub floor space given its height, so what on earth was the reason for the effort of inserting it?!

Possibly an air vent for a stove (either wood or multifuel). I had to stick one through an external wall here. The stove was rated at 7kW, and it needed at a minimum, a 3" vent in the wall to comply with building regulations.
If @LukesLog has a stove over 5kW in that room, a vent should be fitted, and it shouldn't be closable - The only exception is if it has an external air kit plumbed to the outside.

 

[LukesLog]

No stove, though not ruling out one having been previously fitted.

Im fairly confident its a retrofit to help with ventilation and damp, one that im torn on reinstating(easy option) or just bricking up(tricky on the exterior side).

 

[Cubist]

Do you know what this room was originally used for? Typically such vents are associated with kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms.