Owning a home is a dream many work towards for years. Some choose newly built houses, while others fall in love with old properties and the stories they carry. But occasionally, these homes hold unexpected secrets, some unsettling, others surprisingly delightful.
In 2024, a couple from Lancashire in the UK, Hannah and Sam, bought a historic house built in 1840. Excited to move in with their three children, they planned to renovate the property gradually while preserving its old-world charm.
A Chilling Message In The Basement
While clearing out the basement, the couple noticed something that immediately sent a shiver down their spines. Written boldly on one of the walls were the words: ‘Death walks behind you’. In the dimly lit cellar, the message felt ominous, almost like a warning
or a curse left behind by former occupants.
Hannah later admitted that the discovery was terrifying. The property dealer had never mentioned anything about markings on the walls, and the couple began to wonder whether the house had a dark or troubling history.
Gathering courage, Hannah and Sam decided to examine the rest of the basement more closely. As they cleared away dust and debris, their fear slowly gave way to excitement. The walls were not marked by menace, but by music.
A Hidden Tribute To Rock Legends
The basement turned out to be covered in colourful lyrics and quotes from iconic rock bands and musicians, including Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and Black Sabbath. The once-frightening phrase, ‘Death walks behind you’, was revealed to be a lyric from a song by the 1970s rock band Atomic Rooster.
Speaking to Newsweek, Hannah said that what initially felt frightening soon became thrilling. Once they recognised the names and lyrics, they realised the basement was a celebration of rock music culture, a hidden gem for any music enthusiast.
Sharing The Discovery Online
The couple began documenting their renovation journey on Instagram, sharing videos of the basement walls. The posts quickly gained attention, with many viewers calling the discovery ‘cool’ and praising the musical taste of whoever had created the artwork.
Due to damp issues, the plaster on the basement walls had to be removed for safety reasons, which meant the artwork could not be preserved in its original form. Although disappointed, Hannah and Sam found a creative solution.
Turning Memories Into Art
They photographed every wall and now plan to turn the images into framed prints to display in the basement. A video explaining their plan received thousands of likes and comments.
One user wrote, ‘Gen X has amazing taste in music!’ Another commented, ‘Scary at first, but brilliant once you know the truth.’ A third joked, ‘My daughter won’t let us buy a house with a cellar. I’m sending her this!’
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