A MAN who makes a living by teaching students about archaeology through acting was gobsmacked to unearth a piece of history in his own garden.

John Marshall, 53, of Derwent Drive in Stratton, could not believe his eyes when he pulled on his gardening gloves last week and discovered a 20ft hole underneath a bush he planted 10 years ago.

He had started to dig the bush out after it had grown too big and was amazed when he suddenly heard a splash.

He said: “I gingerly removed the root and realised there was a hole appearing, and after a few feet down there was a big chamber.

“The first thing I did was panic – I was close to falling into it which was quite concerning.

“I remember having a big barbecue on the land before the bush was planted with about 70 people, including children running around, which is what was worrying me.

“Then I called my brother, who is a civil engineer, and asked him what I should do.”

After buying a pump to get rid of the water, the pair found the hole was in fact bottle-shaped.

They also discovered pipes at the bottom of the hole, which is about 4ft long, 1ft wide and about 20ft deep.

A worker from Edmont’s Joinery, a company which carries out much of the refurbishment of Arkell’s pubs, told them it was a farming well built some time between 1830 and 1850.

A bottle was also found floating in the water.

John said: “It was a bottle with whisky in it but whether it was originally a whisky bottle or not, I don’t know.

“It was just floating in the water. I haven’t tried it but my brother-in-law has and a friend and they said it was a fine tasting single malt and they said it was absolutely superb.

“I’m not sure how old it is, it depends when it fell down there, but the well has been filled in for more than 50 years.

“It’s completely covered in mud now so I’ve no idea what I’m going to do with it.”

John now has to decide not just what to do with his whisky but what to do with the gaping hole in his garden.

“Unfortunately I’m not the keenest of gardeners. But ironically I am a freelance actor which involves going into schools and playing a character who just happens to be an archaeologist.

“Although I am usually talking to the kids about the Romans and Egyptians, this was still completely fascinating to discover in my own garden.”

“It would be nice to preserve the fact that there was a well there and put a cast iron one in.

“And then I thought it would be lovely to restore it, but it would need an experienced bricklayer to spend a few days on and it would just cost too much.

“If I can, I would like to make it into a smaller well – people say it has some beautiful brickwork and have been shocked at the size of it.”