I've always suspected that section of wall in the hall kept secrets, sounded like plasterboard, not masonry. Today's the day with the help of
handy Andy (Prince among chippies) we ventured into a century old hidden space

I have to concentrate when conversing with
handy Andy because he sounds just like Dud as in Pete & Dud, and it wouldn't take much for me to start taking doing an E.L. Whisty...
"I'm wondering, Andy, that if you remove that supporting strut it could be significantly detrimental... the wall might collapse, and with it, the rest of the building, shortly followed by the end of civilisation as we know it..."
"Yes. That'd be awkward, it being a Saturday 'n' all... "

Fortunately all is well and by tea time he has the best part of a cupboard carcass in place, doors to arrive next week and complete repainting of the hall next weekend.
Meanwhile... it looks like a building site...
"I'll cover those marks with stain fix... they won't come through when we paint next weekend." 