Privy cap question?

[john glassman]

I think I found a privy while metal decting today . I got signal it was huge started diging it out nice old red brick were around edge .I noticed a a chalky white stuff as i was using my digger at the edge of the cap. There no house there and the nearest house is across the road is long gone it was dated 1720

 

[villagenut]

Could be lime or ash sprinkled there but that old I would think it would have washed into the soil by now. Get to probing and look forward to seeing your glass rewards..

 

[releventchair]

Don't know what the white is if not an outhouse lime ,maybe a type motor or plaster to seal the cap at one time..

Might have been a well or cistern too.
It reads like an investigation is required.

 

[kcm]

Reading the OP, I was initially thinking lime as well.

 

[Bass]

Could be lime. I found something similar in a privy cap only it was where an old battery was thrown in and rotted away. Start digging