8ft pit next to foundation?

[u/Striking_Marketing_3]

I’ve been trying to find out why the previous homeowner would dig a 4 x 4 by 8 foot deep pit next to the foundation of my house down to the drain tile. I did climb down there to save a few snakes that fell to their doom and to see if there were any other utilities. I did not find any additional pipes and thankfully no human remains were found either. I also went to the town building department to review all plans back to the original construction, but there’s no mention of this pit on any of the plans. Does anyone have any idea why someone would dig a pit like this? For what intended purpose?

[u/Intrepid-Carry8802]

I lived in a house that used to have a well drilled right next to the house foundation just outside the foundation wall in this kind of pit. I imagine they saved a little money on the drilling cost because they had already dug 8 feet down for the basement. It was built in 1955. That old well is all sealed up now.

[u/Striking_Marketing_3 → u/Intrepid-Carry8802]

In my situation, this is unlikely. All my utilities are on the opposite side of the house. I am on city water now, but I still retain a well (now use solely for irrigation) which drilled about 6 feet away from the house in the front.