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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you'd live in a house where someone was murdered

230 replies

TheCatsBlanket · 12/02/2020 23:22

Just finished watching 'White House Farm' and wondered to myself what happened to the property. Did someone buy it and now lives in it or has it remained empty? I know a google search would prob tell me but my question is, would you live in a house where a murder had taken place? I'm not religious but I think that I'd be scared to be alone in a place with a violent past, in that I'm sure it would harbour sinister vibes.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 13/02/2020 15:23

@BrimfulofSasha How would you even know? it's not something i've ever thought to ask.

Well exactly. As I mentioned upthread, someone was murdered in my porch quite recently. However the reports of his murder mention the street - they certainly don't mention the number of the house. So a few of the neighbours know, but as time goes on there will be fewer and fewer I imagine. And if I ever come to sell the house then how could anyone ever know?

Ughmaybenot · 13/02/2020 15:40

Depends really, on how recent, how much detail I know about it, etc. Ignorance is bliss I reckon.

My DHs relative lives in the house her DH hung himself in. It’s never crossed her mind to move. Different people react in different ways I suppose.

AlexaAmbidextra · 13/02/2020 15:48

*To those wondering how/why the cousin moved in so soon - I don't know what kind of farm it is, but if there's animals you need to be on site so it's the obvious thing to do.g

It’s an arable farm. I think there may have been a small herd of cattle at one point but certainly nothing significant.

The thing that perplexes me about the Eaton’s moving in is that Ann saw the house in all it’s horror immediately after the murders, before it had been cleaned up. It must have looked dreadful.

Dustarr73 · 13/02/2020 15:52

No i wouldnt be able.The idea someones last moment of being in fear of their life.Is very unsettling.

Ariela · 13/02/2020 16:10

There's a big posh house now built on a plot of land near my friend.
It had been a plot of land for years, changed owners several times before eventually planning permission was granted.
The plot of land had a small commercial building on it that was frequented by drug users etc and people sleeping rough.My friend knows of more than one instance of someone hanging themselves there. I don't think the new posh house people know.

Weatherforducks · 13/02/2020 16:31

Parts of my house are nearly 300 years old (1741). It used to be 3 cottages and a blacksmiths. I have documents from 1800 that have been signed with a ‘x’ by the blacksmith. My storeroom still has a chain attached to the wall we’re presumably animals were kept. The garage was once one of those cottages and I can see where the staircase used to be.

The garage always makes me feel sad because it must of been a very cold house (but I think I feel sad because the previous owner mentioned how cold it must have been). It must have been a hard life for the owners of the cottages and blacksmiths.

I have lots of documents that state that many people have died in the house (not murdered as far as I know), but the house is lovely and feels warm and homely.

We have had previous owners come to the house and tell us some of the history and say how much they miss living here. They showed us the marks on the beam which was caused by a lamp that burst, nearly causing the house to burn down, the dark spot on the kitchen cupboard caused by their old dog sitting there. I learned that in the 1800s the blacksmith was fined for improper weights and measures...it’s fascinating stuff...and I have found a very old horseshoe in the garden along with other unrecognisable metal implements.

I have heard a few unexplainable things in the house, but I wonder how much is due to my knowledge of those that lived here?

Candleflamingbright · 13/02/2020 17:10

Ann Eaton, the cousin now lives in it I believe.

CurrynChips · 13/02/2020 18:17

It would depend on personal/local associations of the murder with the house, just because a murder is not something I'd like to be regularly dwelling on - either due my own brain or being reminded by friends/neighbours. I wouldn't have any problem with it from a 'bad energy'/haunting perspective as I don't believe in any of that.

StiffUpperQuip · 13/02/2020 18:25

As long as the body is moved out before I move in, sure I would!

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 13/02/2020 18:33

The house I'm thinking of is possibly the same one GinnyStrupack mentions earlier. I remember driving past that house a couple of times a week and thinking how could anyone move in if they knew what had happened there.
Mind you, if it is the same house/case there was also lots of talk locally about bits of the story that never added up.

MilesEdgeworth · 13/02/2020 18:33

Absolutely.

MrsBrentford · 13/02/2020 18:50

I think farmers are a bit more matter of fact about life and death tbh.

My son moved into a street in our town where there was a very high profile murder and THAT freaked me out Grin

So no, I wouldn’t.

TheSoundofSilence · 13/02/2020 18:52

It's funny isn't it, but buildings seem to have their own unique energy and vibration, very likely Brough about by people who lived there and events that took place (good or bad).

Personally, I would be concerned about the people involved and what brought the murder about. It may be possible that the spirit of the victim could be around the house, and this may have direct ramifications for the new owners. At the very least some sort of cleansing or spiritual ceremony would be needed, as well as a reduced price on the house itself. Alternatively, I would do the sensible thing and avoid altogether.

MrsBrentford · 13/02/2020 18:53

Although my elderly neighbour told me that in the 1990s my house was a squat and a drugs den - so there is a high likelihood that someone at least died here.

MimiLaRue · 13/02/2020 18:57

It may be possible that the spirit of the victim could be around the house

If houses take on the negative energy then any house older than say, 30 years would have negative energy in it. What about unhappy marriages, domestic abuse and violence, arguments, suffering due to cancer treatment and horrible lingering deaths from illness etc
It would be impossible to find a house without negative energy in this case

FloraGreysteel · 13/02/2020 19:09

Yes. A house is a house.

EuroMillionsWinner · 13/02/2020 19:12

And a spirit can also be of someone who died from natural causes.

And if someone's been living in a place for years, no problems, and then finds out it was the site of a murder or suicide, does it all of the sudden change in vibe?

Plenty of deaths from natural causes can be horribly violent, unpleasant, painful and untimely, and nearly every place that's over 120 or so will likely have had someone pass away in it as people used to die at home and even be waked at home.

YukoandHiro · 13/02/2020 19:13

Nope! No no no. No way.

Jellykat · 13/02/2020 19:24

No i wouldnt, i need my sleep!

Ive been known to resell a house after 6 months because i could feel something bad in certain areas (and eldest DS kept seeing people)

I think some people are sensitive to things, and i'm one of them.
I've seen and felt many 'presences' and only last year told the owners of a house i work in, that there was something that made me uneasy in one of the guest rooms (i've seen someone walking into it, when alone in the house) and yes, turns out someone died in there ..

SmellMySmellbow · 13/02/2020 19:44

Had this discussion with DH last night. He would, I wouldn't. When I was a child a friend's family got a bargain on a house where a woman had been murdered. It had been professionally cleaned but there were still blood stains on the floorboards and skirting boards that they had to carpet over and paint over themselves. Grim. He never felt comfortable there and they moved after a few years. My home is Victorian and doubtless had deaths but if it's had a violent death I'd rather remain blissfully unaware! I'm a bit woo.

Jux · 13/02/2020 20:39

It wouldn't bother me at all.

The house I grew up in was a Victorian pile with 8 bedrooms. Up until my parents bought it, it was being used as a nursing home. Lots of old women died in it. My childhood was beset with ghosts of old women, wandering about here there and everywhere.

We currently live in an old Georgian house in which more than one person (that we know of) has died. It seems to be full of ghosts, and sometimes we see a ghostly cat sleeping on the stairs, which is lovely (it is the wrong colour, shape and size to be one of ours). We don't disturb it, but do sometimes say hi to it. Most of our current ghosts are OK, harmless, but one or two are malignant. Luckily, they tend to stay out the back. Perhaps they're tied to their bodies which are buried in the garden? We do have a patio!

BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 13/02/2020 20:46

I find it fascinating that the idea of a ghost or spirit is invariably more scary than when you meet one. Not sure I could be as sanguine as Jux about it though!

StoneofDestiny · 13/02/2020 20:47

Cant imagine it would affect me - nice repaint and lots of nice cheery decor - it's not like the murderer is coming back. I can see that others might be wary and superstitious - but rationally I can't understand why.

percheron67 · 13/02/2020 21:07

Not likely!

cowboy · 13/02/2020 21:51

I think it would depend on who had lived there to be honest. I might well get the house blessed or cleansed but I wouldn't write the idea off for sure.

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