Water surprise it was to find a well hidden beneath the site of a saucy postcard factory!

Holmfirth businessman Peter Carr and his son Sam discovered the 7m shaft while surveying the grounds of their premises off Station Road.

The pair, who hope to transform the former Bamforth Warehouse into shops, offices and flats, were amazed to uncover the well.

Sam noticed a raised metal lid and begin exploring to find the shaft which has a lead pipe running down it.

Now the pair are hoping to discover more about the mysterious well, which measure 120cm across.

The grounds of the warehouse, built in 1870, are thought to have housed a fountain.

And it is believed the well, which contains 1m of water, may have fed it.

Peter said: “Someone told me there had been a fountain in the garden so there could be a pump that’s linked to that.

“I’m hoping someone will know what the well was used for.”

Peter added that the previously undiscovered well could have been a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians.

The land is used as a car park for tour buses for artists playing at the Picturedrome – also owned by Peter.

He said: “I’m glad we found it because if the wheel of a tour bus went in there it’d get stuck or someone could fall down it.

“We’re going to temporarily cover it over and hopefully return it to a function.”

Peter added: “In an ideal world I’ll find a way to make money from it!”

Described as a “significant heritage asset” from 1870 the warehouse was used by James Bamforth of Bamforth and Co as a studio for his artwork.

It was home to much of the work produced by the Bamforth studio until it closed down in 1988 and has been vacant and rundown since.

The artwork included classic Bamforth postcards – many of them featuring buxom blondes and henpecked husbands.