Known as Hill View Cottage, this quaint little semi-detached home in South Cambridge in the UK has a fascinating secret. With its chocolate-box façade and enviable rural location in the charming village of Fowlmere, it's certainly a desirable piece of real estate, however, there's more to this picturesque property than meets the eye. Click or scroll on to find out why it recently went viral and discover what's lurking beneath its foundations...
Currently on the market for $343,000 (£425k), the Tudor-style cottage offers plenty of period features aside from its covert secret. Throughout the home, exposed brick and timber beams give the space a warm, rustic feel, while the living room is the perfect place to curl up with a good book thanks to the spacious inglenook fireplace and wood-burning stove. Though dated, the home’s quirky charms more than make up for any modernisation work required.
There's a total of four bedrooms and one bathroom in the cottage, each adorned with heritage detailing and original casement windows. The property has garnered a lot of interest according to one of its listing agents at Ensum Brown. "While most properties get around 60 clicks a day on Rightmove, this one received over 10,000 in a single day at the weekend," the agent explained. But while its historic appeal is endearing, there may be another reason for its popularity, because hidden below the home lies a secret...
A small trap door in the basement floor leads down a narrow flight of stairs and out into a stone-lined tunnel. The passage connects several other older homes in the village, as well as to a ‘small central meeting room,’ according to the listing. The tunnel is believed to have been built during the reign of Henry VIII after he founded the Church of England, and was likely used as an escape route for Catholics and Protestants to avoid persecution when authorities visited. However, potential buyers will be pleased to know that Hill View Cottage is believed to be the only remaining home with access to the tunnel, so you won’t have anyone popping up in your cellar uninvited!
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If you happen to be in the market for your own secret citadel, look no further than this fabulous listing. Halfway between the cities of Modena and Bologna in the northern Emilia Romagna region of Italy lies the beautiful medieval castle and hamlet of Serravalle, currently on the market for just under €2 million, or about $2.1 million (£1.7m). Despite its age, the castle is in reasonable condition, with minimal renovations required!
What’s more, the castle comes with a portion of the surrounding village, including a hunting lodge with a woodshed, a four-storey lookout tower, a panoramic walkway and a lush 3.5-acre park. Nestled amongst rolling green hills and verdant vineyards, the property has been regularly rented out for events like conferences and weddings, so it could offer a healthy income stream too.
The castle is steeped in history, with parts of it, such as the lookout tower, dating as far back as 1227. For centuries, the town’s fortification – a 19,000-square-foot bulwark set at an altitude of 1,312 feet – played a central role in territorial feuds and battles against invaders and neighbouring fiefdoms. The castle, meanwhile, was vital to the protection of local land, farmers and tenants, and even reportedly played host to the legendary Charlemagne while he was enroute to Rome to be crowned emperor in the 9th century.
Having played such a significant role in political and military history, not to mention having undergone numerous renovations over the centuries, the property also hides its fair share of architectural secrets. These include an underground passage that connects the palace to a nearby tower. Whether the passage was built as an escape route or a means of secret defence is unclear, but it is believed that the tunnel is occupied by the ghosts of the numerous wives murdered by one Boccadiferro lord!
This glamorous compound in New York City’s Upper East Side is being sent to auction with a minimum bid of just under $10.3 million (£8.3m). The property includes a four-storey townhouse, as well as a two-storey rear carriage house. The brick and limestone buildings date to 1919, but the properties were renovated in 2015 by TRA Studio Architecture, who also installed a special feature...
The main townhouse, which stands in the Treadwell Farm Historic District, offers five bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms across 6,047 square feet. Large floor-to-ceiling casement windows in the front and rear make the interiors feel airy and spacious, while a landscaped roof terrace provides breathtaking city views.
Meanwhile, the 1,220-square-foot carriage house features a double-height great room, a woodburning fireplace, a kitchen, a dining area that opens onto a courtyard and a bedroom with an adjoining spa-style bathroom. The carriage house would make a perfect in-law suite, providing an element of privacy and autonomy, while still offering surprisingly easy access to the main house. That's because during the recent renovations, a nifty secret tunnel was constructed to link the carriage house and the townhouse.
It should be clarified that this isn’t just any old hallway. The tunnel comes equipped with a 150-bottle wine room, elevator access, custom cork floors, closets, 10-foot-high ceilings and skylights looking up to a courtyard. While the passageway's primary purpose is to facilitate movement between the two buildings, it sounds like someone could very contentedly spend the afternoon there with a tipple or two. The home has been on and off the market since 2016, but has yet to find a buyer, in spite of its neat special features.
Is there anything more inconvenient than having to cross the street to reach your second home? Well, the owner of these two luxurious mansions certainly didn't think so. Located in Carthage, Missouri, the original Carter House (on the right) was built between 1893 and 1896, while the second property was added later by Ruth I. Kolpin Rubison, a pioneer of radio and cable television. Situated on almost 13 acres of land, the twin properties boast a total of eight bedrooms and 11 bathrooms, but that isn't all!
The two homes are ridiculously lavish and feature stunning stained-glass windows, marble fireplaces, bevelled glass, ornate chandeliers and intricate woodwork. Spanning a total of 16,851 square feet, the opulent estate has breathtaking formal living rooms, kitchens kitted out with tin ceilings and plenty of extras that only billionaires can afford – including a private chapel with a central throne carved from a large sugar maple that once stood in front of the house.
Of course, the deluxe additions don't stop there. Elsewhere on the estate you'll find a music room, a gym, a wood-adorned butler’s pantry, a wet bar, a screening room, a huge games loft and a colossal formal dining room capable of accommodating a whole host of guests. Head down to the basement though and you'll find a secret door that was installed for a rather unusual reason...
According to the New York Post, when Rubison built herself a second house, the idea was to create something smaller where she could spend her latter years. Yet the supposed carriage house soon became bigger than the original mansion. Knowing she'd be unable to navigate the stairs forever, Rubison decided to connect the two homes with an underground tunnel. How's that for handy? The estate was listed for sale in November 2021.
This stunning home was constructed in 2019 and nothing was overlooked in terms of luxurious fixtures and finishes. Nestled on a private parcel of just less than two acres in sought-after Sagaponack Village, Southampton, the prominent property spans 5,328 square feet across two farmhouse-style buildings.
In 2016 the land was purchased by Debora Oppenheimer, a real estate agent with Douglas Elliman. Being an expert in the industry, Oppenheimer knew exactly the type of home she should build on the plot to attract wealthy homeowners seeking an exceptional property in the heart of the Hamptons. The 4,000-square-foot main house offers four bedrooms, a gourmet eat-in kitchen, a stunning living room and French doors that open to the beautiful backyard.
The second property, a 2,500-square-foot guest house, comes equipped with three bedrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen. Exquisite interior design can be found throughout, as well as high-end finishes like Italian porcelain, white oak flooring and Sub-Zero & Wolf appliances. Perfect for a multi-generational family, the estate also boasts an attached two-car garage, a swimming pool and pool house, a three-stall horse barn, a tennis court and several formal gardens. But that's not all...
The two homes are linked by a 26-foot-long underground tunnel, which allows the owners and any guests to travel between the properties without having to brave the elements. More like a high-end hallway, the tunnel is the perfect blank canvas for hanging artwork. Unsurprisingly, this spectacular spread sold in October 2020 for a cool $4.3 million (£3.5m).
Situated in a quiet suburb of Melbourne, Australia, this luxurious mansion is harbouring more than a few surprises. Previously on the market for a whopping $9.3 million (£7.5m), the ultra-private three-bedroom, three-bathroom home would be the perfect retreat for a VIP looking to keep a low profile. Towering walls and hedging provide optimum discretion, while the spectacular backyard comes kitted out with a dining terrace and a luxe swimming pool.
Spanning almost 8,000 square feet, the spectacular yet unusual home offers plenty of space – and style – for your buck. The master bathroom is draped in marble and comes complete with his-and-hers sinks and a colossal walk-in shower, while no expense has been spared in the living room. Yet the property is also hiding an impressive secret that elevates it to new heights...
Hidden on the driveway at the front of the house is a secret trapdoor disguised beneath the gravel. The sleek garage door rises up to reveal a tunnel that runs beneath the property. Perfect for celebrities or secret agents looking to come and go without blowing their cover, this subterranean feature is lined with thick reinforced concrete walls, making it impenetrable.
Head down the tunnel and you'll find yourself in an impressive six-car garage, complete with a state-of-the-art lighting system – the ultimate way to highlight all of your favourite toys. The underground garage also boasts a sealed wine cellar that's perfect for storing priceless bottles of wine. As far as secret rooms go, this spectacular property definitely has a license to thrill!
This attractive holiday home estate in the Welsh coastal town of Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire in the UK offers plenty of bang for your buck. The unique property is made up of three separate units and can be found on Dark Street, a fitting address that alludes to what lies out of sight...
The coastal compound includes the Castle Lake House, a stunning five-bedroom townhouse that dates back to 1275, and two one-bedroom holiday lets, The Retreat and Le Durkestrete. Helpfully, each unit has its own entrance, allowing any visiting guests to maintain their privacy.
There are five floors inside Castle Lake House, and each room has been beautifully restored. Blending modern décor with historic elements such as exposed timber beams, the property is filled with character. As well as offering idyllic views of Haverfordwest Castle, which was established in 1120, the estate also comes with an attractive garden and a rather unusual addition located beneath the ground...
That's right, this coastal gem has its very own secret tunnel. Like something plucked from an Agatha Christie novel, the passageway leads from the lowest floor of the mysterious historic main house to the two holiday rentals. Yet the tunnel's purpose is unknown; it's thought that the corridor may have originally led to an old cellar, but whatever the reason for its creation, we think the addition definitely adds to the allure of this charming coastal crib.
Lynnewood Hall, a spectacular neoclassical revival masterpiece, is considered to be one of the greatest surviving Gilded Age mansions in all of America. The stately home was once one of the finest pieces of real estate in Pennsylvania, but due to its tumultuous history, the magnificent mansion soon fell into disrepair – but it still harbours its fair share of secrets...
The turn-of-the-century estate can be found in Philadelphia and was built between 1897 and 1900 for US tycoon and art collector, Peter Arrell Browne Widener. Notable American architect Horace Trumbauer designed the great house, which spans 70,000 square feet. Constructed from limestone, it was designed in a T-shape and at one time boasted a truly awe-inspiring interior. It's thought to have cost $8 million (£6.5m) to build and has 110 rooms, of which 55 are bedrooms.
Trumbauer hired two interior designers to kit out Lynnewood Hall, Jules Allard et Fils and William Baumgarten. Together, they filled the house with a myriad of precious items. In fact, The Philadelphia Inquirer once described the property's interior as "dripping with silk, velvet, and gilded mouldings, the rooms furnished with chairs from Louis XV's palace, Persian rugs, and Chinese pottery, the halls crammed with art by Raphael, Rembrandt, El Greco, Van Dyck, Donatello".
Yet there's more to Lynnewood Hall than first meets the eye. When Leland Kent of Abandoned Southeast toured the property, he stumbled upon a clandestine tunnel, located deep in the basement. Little is known about the secret feature and it's not clear what exactly it was used for, though it could have offered a route for staff to navigate the house out of sight. It's thought to lead to the estate's carriage house, positioned in the grounds.
This one-of-a-kind mega-mansion can be found in Lake Quivira, Kansas. Built in 1993, the colossal property boasts a 17,755-square-foot interior and a 15-acre garden. Inspired by the Legend of King Arthur, the property recently landed on the market for $10.9 million (£8.8m) but finally sold for a mere $2.5 million (£2m). It features seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a multitude of fantastical details worthy of a fairytale...
From the mansion's bespoke stained-glass windows to its handcrafted dragon doors and pulpit taken from a church in Salem, Massachusetts, this pad certainly has plenty of personality. There's a grand living room, a commercial-grade kitchen, a library, a billiards room, a home cinema and a wine cellar but that's not all...
Hidden amongst the grounds lies a swimming pool and a grotto, complete with a network of hidden scuba-diving tunnels that run beneath the mega-mansion. Accessed by a number of pop-up holes and caves, the tunnels are filled with sunken treasures, including faux fossils and exotic fish.
Outside, you can see the end of the scuba diving tunnels, which lead to an extensive outdoor pool, complete with a 35-foot waterfall. Elsewhere, there's also miles of paved walking trails, as well as 15 acres of gardens, water features and elegant statues. What more could you possibly need?
Dubbed 'the safest home in America', this 36,000-square-foot mansion in the suburbs of Atlanta is as secure as they come. Inspired by the Acropolis of Athens, the eight-bedroom Greek Revival pile boasts everything from a home theatre and bowling alley to an infrared sauna and infinity pool.
Yet the mansion's most impressive USP is its security features. Ideal for a former president, mafia kingpin or wealthy individual on the Witness Protection Program, the ultra-safe compound has a secret 100-foot tunnel that's straight out of a James Bond movie.
The strategically positioned passageway has a diameter of five feet and connects to a subterranean bank vault room, gun range, roomy car vault and underground bunker spanning some 15,000 square feet.
The bunker even has its own command centre, not to mention remote-controlled ballistic walls and doors that can protect against a missile strike or zombie apocalypse. Once listed for $17 million (£13.7m), the home was sold by Concierge Auctions in December 2018 for the bargain sum of $2.5 million (£2m).
Alton Manor in New Jersey went on the market in 2015 with Pat McKenna Realtors, priced at $2.9 million (£2.3m). The five-bedroom, 11,500-square-foot French Colonial mansion rocks a number of wow-factor amenities, including a 42-seater party bar and a state-of-the-art soundproof movie theatre.
The spacious property also has a large outdoor pool, complete with a two-storey pool house, as well as a mini casino with slot machines and a cinema ticket booth, containing a decidedly creepy-looking mechanical usher. Minus the horror movie puppet, we think it'd make the perfect party house.
However, the pièce de résistance has got to be the 150-foot secret underground tunnel. Encased in thick concrete, the corridor is tough enough to withstand a bomb blast, a full-on tornado or even a missile strike.
The former owner built the tunnel back in 1999 at the height of the Y2K or Millennium bug scare, that as we all know, luckily came to naught. Buried 22 feet under the house, the passageway comes with its own air circulation and surveillance system, meaning the owner could remain safe and secure for as long as required.
This spacious 4,524-square-foot home near Spokane's scenic Iller Creek Conservation Area has a wealth of standout amenities. In addition to its five bedrooms and four bathrooms, the property boasts a high-end kitchen, several reception rooms, an amazing man cave and a whole lot more besides...
The unique two-part property was sold in 2016 by local firm Century 21 Beutler & Associates Real Estate to one very lucky buyer for $700,000 (£564k), a snip at the price given its numerous amenities.
One of two pavilions designed by London architects Carmody Groarke in 2018 for a country house in East Sussex, this concrete guest suite is situated on the banks of an artificial lake.
Mostly submerged beneath the earth, the hidden galvanised steel tunnel and pavilion are extremely well-insulated, making for a sustainable structure that requires very little energy to heat. In fact, the building and tunnel maintain a comfortable temperature all 12 months of the year.
The dinky guest suite pavilion, which is lined with fine oak panels, contains a cosy double bed, vintage-style bathtub and a compact kitchen, plus a dramatic floor-to-ceiling window that looks out onto the lake. This snug hideaway looks right up our street!
This Kentucky mansion may have a gorgeous façade, but its interiors hide a dark secret. Currently on the market for $6.5 million (£5.2m), the home boasts nine bedrooms, nine and a half bathrooms, three kitchens and a whopping 14,300 square feet of space. Better still, the 200-acre lot includes a large saltwater pool, plenty of outdoor terraces and a 200-acre lake with a private shoreline. There’s just one little hitch – it’s been dubbed the ‘murder mansion.’
In February of 2022, 23-year-old former soldier Shannon Gilday is alleged to have fatally shot the 32-year-old daughter of a former Kentucky lawmaker in her bed in the home. According to Kentucky State Police, Gilday had broken into the home believing that it had a nuclear fallout shelter. Court documents claim that Gilday had been extensively researching the home and bunker for months, fearing that nuclear war was imminent. Gilday is facing charges of murder, assault, three counts of attempted murder, burglary and criminal mischief. The trial is scheduled for May 2025.
The bunker in question is a shelter 26 feet underground with a 39-inch solid concrete ceiling and 15-inch walls which the victim’s father, former Kentucky State Rep. C. Wesley Morgan, had built when Barack Obama became president. The listing indicates that the bunker is built to withstand a Seismic 12 earthquake and comes equipped with three Swiss air filtration systems, two escape tunnels, three generators, geothermal heat and air, a 21,000-gallon propane tank and an 8,000-gallon pressurised water tank.
If you can put aside the doomsday bunker with the dark history, you may be able to appreciate the home’s many other luxurious amenities, elegant indoor/outdooring living layout and opulent furnishings, which will be included in the sale. The estate is located a convenient 15 minutes from Lexington, known as the horse capital of the world, and would certainly make a glamorous home for anyone willing to overlook its morbid past…and its spooky basement.
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