Discovery of a medieval wine cellar below the 13th hole of a golf course in Manchester revealed a space closed for more than 100 years, with vaulted structure, empty antique bottles, and possible connection to the historical mansion Davyhulme Hall from the 12th century.
A medieval wine cellar was discovered beneath a golf course in Manchester, England, during a routine inspection conducted on February 27. The space, believed to date back to the 12th century, had remained hidden for over 100 years and surprised club staff when it emerged beneath the 13th hole of the course.
The discovery began when Steve Hopkins noticed the opening of an unusual hole in the area. Initially, the suspicion was that it was merely the collapse of a pipe, which led the staff member to start an excavation to identify the problem.
Routine inspection revealed underground passage
During the work, a passage opened beneath Hopkins’ feet and revealed a hidden door. On the other side, there was a brick cellar with a vaulted ceiling, indicating that the underground space had characteristics much older than initially thought.
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Upon entering the location, the staff member reported the impact of the discovery. “I was the first person to enter this space in over 100 years,” he stated, emotionally, while describing the moment he accessed the underground structure.
12th-century wine cellar housed traces of another period
The space identified beneath the course was described as a wine cellar dating from the Middle Ages. On the floor, dozens of empty old wine and port bottles were found, all darkened by smoke.
The presence of these objects reinforced the perception that the site preserved material signs of a distant era. Despite the interest that such a discovery can evoke, the bottles were empty, which frustrated any expectation of finding pieces still preserved with their contents.
Connection with historical mansion still guides club decisions
According to the owners of the course, the wine cellar likely belonged to Davyhulme Hall, a historical mansion from the 12th century. The property was owned by the English knight John de Hulme and ceased to exist due to lack of ownership.
The connection with this ancient building helps explain the presence of a medieval structure beneath the golf course. Until the discovery, club members had no idea they were playing over a historical site linked to such an old property.
Space remains closed while future is evaluated
For now, the cellar remains closed and inaccessible to the public. The club is still evaluating what to do with the wine cellar and is considering, among the possibilities, transforming it into a tourist attraction.
Before any decision, however, the priority is to ensure the safety of players on the course. The determination about the future of the space will depend on this evaluation, while the discovery already repositions the site as a point of historical interest beyond its sporting use.

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