so you want to backtrack all the way down there? We were told there is a monster there, at the very least there's probably something. As this area seems largely abandoned for some time we should finish this area before starting a new one imo. I do not like loose ends and unfinished business, let's finish this then move on.
(where are the children when we are doing all this exploring?)
(after dealing with the chest there is one door left I think and the basement)