Shivangi Sinha
Fred and Rose West were responsible for a series of horrific crimes, including the sexual abuse, torture, and murder of at least 12 young women and girls. Many of these atrocities took place within the confines of their home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester. The house, later dubbed the “House of Horrors,” became infamous for the hidden graves beneath its floors and garden and became a symbol of the brutality that it had witnessed. In Netflix’s ‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story,’ the documentary delves deep into the crimes, the victims, and the lasting impact on their families. It also treats the house itself as a central figure, revealing how it concealed years of unimaginable violence.
Fred and Rose West Lived in 25 Cromwell Street For More Than 20 Years
After getting married in January 1972, Fred and Rose West relocated from their home on Midland Road to 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, UK. Living with them at the time were Fred’s daughter from a previous marriage, Anne Marie West, their eldest daughter, Heather, and Rose, who was pregnant with their second child, Mae. The latter would go on to be born in that very house. Initially rented from the council, the Wests later purchased the property for £7,000. The cost was a strain, so they converted the upper floors of the three-story home into bedsits to earn extra income. The family primarily occupied the ground floor, and to maintain their privacy, they installed a cooker and washbasin on the first-floor landing, ensuring lodgers had no access to the family’s private quarters or the rear garden.
Reports suggest that around 1972, 25 Cromwell Street became the location where Rose West began engaging in sex work. One of the rooms used for this purpose was later found to contain several hidden peepholes and a baby monitor. It was discovered during a police search in February 1994 and was believed to have been installed so Fred could watch her with clients. Though outwardly unremarkable, the house underwent constant internal and external modifications by Fred. The ground floor, which served as the family’s living room, featured a fireplace and was central to their domestic life. In 1994, police unearthed the remains of three women, including their eldest daughter Heather West, in the garden. In the cellar, the remains of six more women, who were victims of torture and murder at the hands of Fred and Rose, were discovered. You can watch 25 Cromwell Street inside in the above video.
25 Cromwell Street Was Demolished in 1996
What shocked the officers most during their investigation was the sight of children’s drawings and paintings on the cellar walls. This disturbing detail suggested that children had spent time in the cellar, either as punishment or possibly seeking refuge in what they perceived as a safe space. Once the details of the case became public, the home quickly earned the grim nickname “House of Horrors,” drawing widespread attention and visits from the families of victims who came to pay tribute to their loved ones.
Due to the intense public reaction and the dark legacy of the property, it was ultimately decided that the house should be demolished. In October 1996, Gloucester City Council razed 25 Cromwell Street. All building materials and debris were securely incinerated to prevent any possibility of macabre souvenir collection. Today, nothing remains of the structure, and only a quiet patch of grass and a narrow alley mark the site where the infamous house once stood.
Read More: Rena Costello: How Did Fred West Kill His First Wife?
