Saw dust in attic?

[Delicatedave]

Been asking loads of people about this but the only two suggests seems very odd - I moved into this house just 3 months ago, it's about 100 and a bit years old country cottage. When I went into the loft I found, next to the chimney brest a crap about 2ft by 3ft filled with saw dust and shavings. What is it? I've not got rid of it just because I'm confused.

Suggested so far;

Something to attract woodworm away from the beams.
Some kind of lighting conductor or dampener - The does seem to be a steel strap heading towards it.

[Mr Punter]

2 minutes ago, Delicatedave said:

a crap about 2ft by 3ft filled with saw dust and shavings

 

I concur that it does sound rather - um - unusual.  I understand that @pocster once had a tenant who left items of a similar ilk.

[Onoff]

2 hours ago, Delicatedave said:

chimney brest a crap about

 

"chimney breast a gap about"?

[ProDave]

Just now, Onoff said:

 

"chimney breast a gap about"?

I was trying to work out what that meant.

 

If there was a gap in the chimney breast, filled with sawdust, I would not be lighting the fire.

[Onoff]

It's not a giant (maybe collapsed) wasp's nest is it? ?

[Onoff]

A picture would help.

[Delicatedave]

1 hour ago, ProDave said:

I was trying to work out what that meant.

 

If there was a gap in the chimney breast, filled with sawdust, I would not be lighting the fire.

Sorry dyslexic, The is a wooden box full of saw dust and shavings.

[Delicatedave]

41 minutes ago, Onoff said:

A picture would help.

Not going up in the loft for at the moment but here's a picture if it helps, it's my Skipper.

[Simplysimon]

7 minutes ago, Delicatedave said:

Not going up in the loft for at the moment but here's a picture if it helps, it's my Skipper.

 

so you've got a chimney on a boat?

[Onoff]

12 minutes ago, Delicatedave said:

up in the loft

 

"Get down Shep!"

[Roundtuit]

59 minutes ago, Delicatedave said:

Sorry dyslexic, The is a wooden box full of saw dust and shavings.

 

Old-school winter storage for root veg?  

[Delicatedave]

11 hours ago, Roundtuit said:

 

Old-school winter storage for root veg?  

Well that's a new one.

[Onoff]

50 minutes ago, Delicatedave said:

Well that's a new one.

 

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/storage-of-home-grown-vegetables-7-601/

[riv990]

Might contain an old Galvanised water tank  I have found this before , a solidly built  t & g box using sawdust for insulation often in those  built or upgraded early 20 c

[Temp]

My parents stored apples in the loft but they spread them out on newspapers.