Opening up a bricked-up cellar doorway

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I have a cellar which runs from front to back of my late Victorian, mid-terrace property, half of which - containing builders rubble - was sealed off by the previous owners 25 years ago, by bricking up a connecting doorway.

To alleviate the damp in the basement above, I've been advised to create airflow in the cellar by means of air bricks & by opening up the bricked-up doorway. Is it essential/advisable/a statutory requirement to replace the perfectly sound wooden lintel over the doorway before re-opening?
 
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I would not see any reason to replace wooden lintel, or header, IF there is no noticeable damage to the wood i.e. Rot, decay, or termite damage. It held what was there before so it should hold it again, unless it was seriously undersized to begin with, which would be unlikely
 

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