Centuries-Old Wine Cellar Discovered Beneath Manchester Golf Course Sinkhole

At the 13th hole of Davyhulme Park Golf Club in Manchester, England, an unexpected sinkhole uncovered a long-forgotten wine cellar, containing dozens of glass bottles untouched for over 100 years.

Experts believe the cellar is a remnant of Davyhulme Hall, a historic manor that once occupied the site. Now, the golf club is exploring how to preserve this extraordinary archaeological find, potentially integrating it as an attraction on the course.

An Unearthed Historical Gem

Steve Hopkins, the club’s deputy head green keeper, stumbled upon the cellar after spotting a sinkhole close to the 13th tee. According to BBC News:

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“I was basically the first person to go in there for over a hundred years.” He added that: “When you find a sinkhole on the course it usually means that a drain has collapsed. So we’re thinking it’s just a drain that needs digging out and clearing and repairing but as we dug deeper the chasm underneath just opened up.”

Upon venturing inside, Hopkins realized the cellar had likely been sealed since the manor’s demolition in the late 19th century, with wine bottles left undisturbed since then.

Collection of historic glass wine bottles found below a golf course's 13th hole. Credit: Davyhulme Park Golf Club

Linking to a Rich Historic Estate

Located near a section of the course called “The Cellars,” the hidden chamber is thought to be connected to Davyhulme Hall. Erected by the Hulme family in the 12th century, the hall was home to John de Hulme, a medieval knight. By the 1800s, the property belonged to Robert Henry Norreys, who initiated a nine-hole golf course on part of the estate.

Entrance to the concealed wine cellar uncovered beneath the golf course. Credit: Davyhulme Park Golf Club

Following Norreys’s death in 1887, the manor was put up for sale but never purchased, resulting in its demolition the following year. The current golf course was developed in the early 1900s, making the cellar a tangible link to the former manor and the history tied to the land.

Preservation and Future Use

The sinkhole discovery has excited both the staff and members, who are deliberating over the cellar’s future. The club has temporarily sealed off the site for safety as they plan the next steps. Some suggest featuring the cellar as a historical highlight during rounds of golf.

An exciting discovery on the course today⛳

Following the appearance of a sinkhole on the 13th hole, our greens team uncovered what appears to be an old cellar, believed to date back to the original manor house.

Over 100 years old and filled with historic wine and port bottles pic.twitter.com/0uBdyrW1Vp
— Davyhulme Park Golf Club (@DavyhulmeGolf) February 27, 2026

Meanwhile, the bottles have been carefully extracted for protection and the club considers displaying them within the clubhouse to honor the estate’s heritage.

“For now, the cellar has been safely sealed while we decide what to do with it next. We’d love to turn it into a feature—it’s such a fascinating find—but we need to carefully consider the safety of players (and where those golf balls might land!),” the golf club announced on Facebook.