In the older streets of Britain's towns and cities you can still find coal hole covers in the pavements next to rows of houses. These comprise a pair of rectangular metal flaps that, when opened, gave access to a coal cellar beneath the adjacent property. Deliveries of coal for fires would be poured through the coal hole and thence into the internal house cellar, when stores needed replenishing. The surface of the coal hole covers, because they formed part of the surface of the pavement, have embossed patterns to offer grip to pedestrians.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
