Looks like a big place. Being stuck out in the middle of nowhere can't make it easy to get trade. Not like people could just wander up. There's one near hear right on the A1, but no other houses nearby. The pub shut down and someone lives there now, but it must be noisy.
You could have used the boat to explore downstairs.
Do these places smell bad? I imagine mould plus possible other 'waste' could have a certain aroma.
Not a bad idea, but lack of oars would have impeded our progress.
It is something you get used to, they all have a similar smell, some worse than others. We did one yesterday that stunk quite badly in one room. Like piss.
Probably was piss :)