Pub owners flummoxed by mysterious hole in garden

The hole even appears to continue round a bend and out of sight but, bizarrely, there is no sign of the soil that used to fill it.
Co-owner of the pub restaurant with Johnny Ferrand, Robin Young, said: “We just can’t work it out. Is there some sort of tunnel under there? We’re wondering if it’s anything to do with the recent heavy rain but for years there’s been no problem. We think this is the highest pub in Berkshire but whether or not that’s a factor, who knows?”
A huge umbrella has been placed in the hole for safety and a warning cone placed adjacent to it while the owners work out a more permanent solution.
In August 2007, flooding unearthed an archaeological mystery after a 30ft deep hole appeared overnight in a Newtown garden in Newbury.
In that instance it was discovered that a landslide had unearthed an ancient well, possibly medieval in origin.
If you think you might know the answer to the mystery at The Pheasant, contact chief reporter John Garvey at john.garvey@newburynews.co.uk