Houses are weird. We spend decades living in them, painting over scuffs, and hanging family photos, but most of us have no idea what’s actually inside the boundaries of our own rooms. It’s honestly a bit unsettling if you think about it too long. There is a whole world of secrets on the walls that only comes to light when a sledgehammer meets plaster during a Saturday morning renovation.
Sometimes it’s trash. Usually, it’s trash. Old gum wrappers, dusty insulation, or a stray newspaper from 1974. But occasionally, people find things that rewrite the history of a building or, in some cases, things that feel like they belong in a horror movie. We aren't just talking about "cool vintage finds" here; we’re talking about deliberate deposits left by people who wanted to be remembered—or people who were trying to ward off evil spirits.
The strange reality of ritual concealments
Back in the day, people were incredibly superstitious. If you lived in a 17th-century cottage in East Anglia or a colonial-era home in New England, the "secrets on the walls" weren't just accidental debris. They were protection.
Archaeologists call these "concealed finds." One of the most common—and frankly, kind of gross—things people find are mummified cats. It sounds like a joke, but it’s a documented historical practice. Homeowners would place a dead cat inside the wall cavities or under floorboards to hunt "spectral vermin" or act as a lucky charm against witches. Brian Hoggard, an independent researcher who has spent years documenting these finds through his project Hidden Charms, has recorded hundreds of these instances across the UK.
It wasn't just cats.
Shoes are everywhere. If you’re ripping out a chimney breast and a single, worn-out leather boot falls out, don't assume someone just lost it. These are "spiritual middens." The theory is that a shoe takes on the shape of the wearer’s foot and, by extension, their soul. By leaving a shoe near an "entry point" like a window or a fireplace, the residents hoped to trick a wandering spirit into entering the shoe instead of the person.
The messy truth about "Wall Messages"
Not everything hidden is about magic. Most of the time, the secrets on the walls are just humans being humans. We have this deep-seated urge to leave a mark. It’s the same impulse that makes a kid carve their initials into a tree.
Contractors are notorious for this. If you peel back the wallpaper in a Victorian-era terrace, you might find a penciled note from a carpenter complaining about his wages or the heat. In 2021, a family in Scotland found a message in a bottle hidden under their floorboards that had been there since 1887. It wasn't a map to buried treasure; it was just a note from two workers who laid the floor.
It’s a time capsule.
But it gets darker. During the Cold War, it wasn't uncommon for people to hide survival supplies or even "forbidden" literature inside wall cavities, especially in Eastern Europe. These weren't just hobbyist time capsules; they were life-and-death precautions.
When the secrets are actually valuable
Everyone dreams of the "Antiques Roadshow" moment. You’re tearing down a lath-and-plaster wall to open up the kitchen, and suddenly, gold coins. Or a long-lost painting.
It actually happens. Sorta.
In 2017, a couple in Arizona found a hidden safe in their kitchen floor during a remodel. Inside was a collection of 1960s memorabilia, a bottle of bourbon, and about $50,000 in cash. But for every one of those stories, there are ten thousand stories of people finding nothing but dead mice and asbestos.
The real value of secrets on the walls is usually historical rather than monetary. Finding a newspaper from the day the Titanic sank—which has actually happened in old NYC brownstones—doesn't make you a millionaire, but it gives you a physical tether to a specific Tuesday a century ago. It makes the house feel less like a product and more like a witness.
Common things people find behind the plaster:
- Old razor blades: This is a big one in mid-century homes. Medicine cabinets used to have a tiny slot in the back for disposing of used blades. They just fell into the wall cavity. Forever. If you're renovating a bathroom from the 1950s, be careful where you stick your hands.
- Children’s toys: Marbles, headless dolls, and lead soldiers. These usually slip through cracks in floorboards or are stashed away by a kid who forgot their hiding spot.
- Wallpaper layers: This is the most common "secret." It’s a literal timeline of taste. You start with 2020s "greige," move into 1990s floral borders, hit 1970s psychedelic orange, and eventually find the hand-printed patterns of the early 1900s.
The ethics of finding "The Secrets"
What do you do when you find something?
Most people just post it on Reddit. But if you find something truly significant—like human remains (it happens more than you'd think in very old urban areas) or significant historical artifacts—there’s a process.
In the UK, the Portable Antiquities Scheme is the gold standard for this. If you find something "treasure-y," you’re legally supposed to report it. In the US, it’s a bit more of a Wild West situation. Generally, if it’s on your property, it’s yours, unless it involves a crime scene or Native American remains, which are protected under NAGPRA (the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act).
Nuance matters here. You aren't just an owner; you’re a temporary steward. If you find a diary from 1912, throwing it in the trash feels like a minor crime against history.
Why we can't stop looking
There’s a psychological pull to the idea of secrets on the walls. It’s the "Uncanny." Freud talked about the unheimlich—the idea of something being familiar yet strangely alien. Your home is the most familiar place in the world. Discovering that it has been "holding its breath" or keeping a secret from you for eighty years shifts your perspective.
It’s why "urban exploration" videos get millions of views. We want to see the things that aren't meant for us.
We also like the idea that we aren't alone. Living in an old house can feel lonely, but finding a 1920s candy wrapper behind a baseboard is a reminder that someone else once stood exactly where you are, probably worrying about their bills or what to make for dinner, just like you.
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What to do if you suspect your house is hiding something
If you live in a house built before 1960, there is a 90% chance there is something—however small—hidden in your walls. You don't need to go swinging a hammer just to find out, though.
- Check the "Dead Spaces": Look under the stairs, in the back of built-in closets, or in the attic eaves. These are the places where people stashed things they didn't want found quickly.
- Use a borescope: You can buy a cheap snake camera that plugs into your phone. Drill a tiny hole in a closet wall and peak inside. It beats destroying your living room.
- Research the "Sanborn Maps": If you’re in the US, these old fire insurance maps show the exact footprint of your house over decades. You might realize a wall was moved or a room was walled off entirely.
- Document everything: If you do find a "secret," take photos before you move it. The context—where it was placed, what it was near—is often more important than the object itself.
The next time you hear a weird creak or notice a slightly hollow-sounding patch of drywall, don't just ignore it. It might just be the house settling. Or, it might be a 150-year-old shoe waiting for you to find it.
Final Actionable Steps
If you've stumbled upon something interesting, your first move should be preservation. Clean it gently—don't use harsh chemicals on old paper or leather. Contact a local historical society if the item seems specific to the area’s industry or famous families. Finally, consider contributing to the "tradition." If you’re sealing up a wall during a renovation today, leave your own secret. A current newspaper, a USB drive with family photos (though who knows if they'll be able to read it in fifty years), or a simple hand-written note. You are the next chapter of the history someone else will eventually find.