What was this building for?

[Hofsticks]

I have an old Victorian brick outbuilding (1869) with very thick walls and a small drain in the corner. The door is very low and the floor is two feet below ground level and made of concrete. The roof used to be tiled, there is only one window and several air bricks. What was it used for? This building has been derelict for around 40 years when it lost its roof.

 

[Hofsticks]

The brick pillars are much younger and don’t appear to be connected to the original building. My thinking is root cellar or cold store. It’s about 50 metres from the main house

 

[Hofsticks]

The brick pillars are much younger and don’t appear to be connected to the original building. My thinking is root cellar or cold store. It’s about 50 metres from the main house

 

[Stevers]

That door can't be more than 4' high, yet it looks like there was once a suspended timber floor - if so the visible air bricks are too high up. I'm trying to think back to the only root cellar I've came across, and that doubled as an air raid shelter and was very well dug in. This shed is ill equipped to keep frost out - which is what a root cellar would need to do. A 4' high door in a shed that has a window makes for an interesting conundrum!

 

[Gothichome]

Your pictures are a bit confusing to me! The last pic, are you standing on the suspended floor Before removal? The door and door frame just cut short to match the added floor. I would just go with utility shed, could be used from anything from distilling your beverage to storing your rake. Original intent just last to time.
Ron

 

[Stevers]

Hadn't clocked the 2'6" of filled in doorway that would make it a normal height door. You have to wonder what that change was supposed to achieve unless it was to turn it into an unusually substantial Wendy House!

 

[bobby spray]

It looks similar to several cold stores for game that I have seen. Are you in a game shooting area?