The notorious house once belonging to serial killers Fred and Rose West, located at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, may have been demolished over 25 years ago, but locals say the site remains haunted by a chilling, “strange energy.”
Between 1967 and 1987, Fred and Rose West committed at least 12 brutal murders, including those of their own children, within the confines of the house. After the full extent of their crimes was uncovered, the property was demolished in 1996 and replaced with a walkway. Yet, many residents who pass the spot report feeling an unsettling presence.
Patsy Dooley, who lives just minutes from Cromwell Street, admits to avoiding the walkway altogether. “It feels very strange there,” she explained. “There’s an eerie, almost cold energy. Everyone I talk to says the same. No one’s comfortable walking through; we all prefer to go around it.” She also noted the collective unease is largely because the community knows what transpired there.
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The crimes shocked the world when police excavated bodies beneath the property’s garden and cellar after the disappearance of the Wests’ daughter Heather pushed authorities to investigate further. Fred West was arrested and charged with 12 murders but took his own life in prison prior to his trial. Rose West was convicted and is serving a life sentence.
Interest in the Wests’ dark history has been rekindled recently by the release of the Netflix documentary, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story. Patsy says she has been aware of the grim legacy from childhood, having grown up in the area where the story still lingers.
In an unsettling contrast to the crimes, earlier this year news surfaced that Rose West had become a grandmother once again. Her son Stephen, who has severed ties with her, welcomed his daughter Eden with former glamour model fiancée Emma Bradley. While life continues to move forward for her family, the legacy of tragedy tied to the Cromwell Street house remains a haunting presence in Gloucester.