When moving into a new studio apartment, this tenant didn’t expect to stumble into a mind-blowing secret. Although it used to be an old English monastery, dating back to the 19th century, it was renovated. There are approximately 30 apartments inside and this tiny studio was a steal at the cheap price.
Or at least, he thought it was tiny.
The kitchen/living room has high ceilings: it’s a very old building.
He set up all of his essentials.
Because of the high ceilings, the bed was in a unique place.
A loft stretched out over the kitchen, making it very cozy.
The small bathroom is on the first floor.
But there’s something wrong here…
A trap door. Does it lead anywhere?
What’s inside?
Oh, just some extra storage in the small studio apartment.
Wait.
A staircase. To a secret dungeon?
At first glance it seemed to run under the whole building. Time to get some help.
Once an exploring companion was found, it was time to delve into the depths. The hatch led to a 19th century layout of corridors and hatches beneath.
The side rooms were underneath different tenants.
At the end of the corridor, there was more.
A possible secret room in between apartments (in the ceiling of the corridor).
Room with a vaulted ceiling leading to more darkness.
Modern graffiti, someone was visiting within the last decade.
The last room was large, with good head space.
A crypt? Or maybe a great place for an entertainment center.
Who knows what went on down here…
There was an opening in the middle of the floor with loose dirt in it. It seemed recently disturbed.
Terrifying stairs leading back up into the apartment.
Secret dungeons, corridors, rooms and doors make any home perfect. Here’s hoping he never, ever leaves (or tells the landlord).It’s hard to tell what went on down there over the years, but I know one thing: I’m a little jealous my place doesn’t have a trap door OR a secret dungeon.
They weren’t the only ones to find something AWESOME in their basement though, check out what these different home owners found in their basement. Their house is 25 miles south of the Canadian border, and was a hotspot for Underground Railroad safe houses.
One day his father decided to remodel the basement to make it more energy efficient.
There used to be a brick wall behind the water softener.
They had always heard tales that there was an Underground Railroad hiding spot below the fireplace.
Instead of tearing up the living room floor, they tried to find it from the basement.
They found it!
The room was behind 32″ of foundation, and not easy to get to.
Here’s the room.
Slaves would hide in this tiny room, until a path to Canada was deemed safe by abolitionists.
A broken step below the trap door.
That could be dangerous.
There were a couple of pipes leading into the room, used for air and water at the time.
Sadly they didn’t find anything exciting inside the room…
…except for this awesome bayonet inside of a brick wall.
Looking down the bayonet .
The room is a total of 130″ x 32″ X 80″
Historians from a local Underground Railroad museum are coming eventually to take a look at the room.
Until then it will be left as found, spider webs and all.
That’s so cool. I wonder if I should go digging up the basement of my house and see what hidden rooms I can find.
Having said that though…I could find something REALLY CREEPY, like these wax mannequins one man put on display in the basement of Fort Paull, an old, Napoleonic era fort in the North of England near Yorkshire.
A wax executioner with a few heads on pikes.
Some sort of medical center?
Nice kilt you’ve got there.
“Who’s ready for a shave and haircut?”
Not my ideal place for a nap.
A doctor or a butcher?
That mannequin looks suspiciously happy.
The one on the left looks a little bit like Rocky.
Looks like the right one always dreamed about becoming a DJ.
No historical wax museum would be complete without Hitler.
Sure, I’ll tell the whole internet of you guys.
So hey guys…what ya up to down here in the dark?
Death by firing squad.
Giving him the silent treatment, eh?
Why is there someone jumping out of that cake?
Anyone know if these guys perform at children’s parties?
Some sort of zombie butler?
Reconstruction of an air-raid bunker.
Old and dirty kid mannequins are the definition of creepy.
An old-timey gangster mannequin.
What is supposed to be happening here?!
Churchill, is that you?
Nope! Definitely not Churchill.
There’s nothing creepier than a wax mannequin wearing a gas mask. Nothing.
Umm…ok then.
This is what I imagine Jack the Ripper looked like.
Looking for wax land mines.
“The admiral will see you now.”
History is usually pretty terrifying all on its own. There shouldn’t be any need to throw extra creepy wax mannequins into the mix. Maybe Fort Paull should start advertising itself as a haunted house instead of a museum?