"Owain" wrote in message
...
"Lobster" wrote
| ... I've found two old green 6mm(?) earth lead which emerge from the
| plaster adjacent to the (ancient) fusebox and connect to a terminal
| block,

Those might disappear off to water and gas pipes somewhere.

Indeed; one such lead is in fact attached to CW piping below the kitchen
sink (which is close to the water main, located at the opposite end of the
house) but I haven't confirmed continuity to one of those near the fusebox
yet.

It is also possible that there's an earth (ie bonding) from a socket in
the
kitchen to the cold water main, and that, brought back through the circuit
protective conductor to the fusebox, was considered sufficient to earth
the
whole installation.

Yes that does fit the evidence! If so, I suppose the place is marginally
less of a death trap than I thought, but either way, it will be sorted.

Thanks
David