Couple renovating 1960s home stumble across ‘secret room’ worth a ‘small fortune’
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A couple who recently purchased a new home were shocked to discover a secret room and a hidden wine cellar – and some of the bottles could be worth a small fortune
![They found the previous owner's unique decorating style, which included 'layer upon layer of questionable wallpaper'](https://i2-prod.edinburghlive.co.uk/incoming/article28681847.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/1_Screen-Shot-2024-02-22-at-095727.png)
They found the previous owner’s unique decorating style, which included ‘layer upon layer of questionable wallpaper’
A couple who were sprucing up their 1960s home stumbled upon a hidden treasure that could be worth a ‘small fortune’. The new homeowners got more than they expected when they found a secret room in their house.
Fixing up a property is no easy task, but buying a house that needs a bit of love and transforming it can save a lot of money. In fact, it’s becoming a popular way for first-time buyers to step onto the property ladder.
Nicole Halliday and her partner jumped straight into DIY after getting the keys to their 1960s house – a property bought in 1962 for just £3.141 and now worth hundreds of thousands. But during the long hours of peeling off old wallpaper and knocking down walls, the couple discovered what might be a small fortune.
In a TikTok video that has racked up over 1.9 million views and hundreds of comments, Nicole shows the amount of work needed to fix up the house. There are big cracks in the wall, a 14 year old boiler they thought was new, and rotten floorboards due to leaks.
They found the previous owner’s unique decorating style, which included ‘layer upon layer of questionable wallpaper’ and discovered live wires that weren’t connected to anything. When they removed the ‘monstrosity wardrobes’, a hidden door to an extra room they didn’t know existed was revealed.
But the real surprise was yet to come. Nicole ventured into what she thought would be a spooky, dark cellar and found a hidden wine cellar instead. Her video shows about a dozen unopened wine bottles gathering dust. Some viewers suggested she should return the alcohol to the original owners, but others disagreed.
![Nicole ventured into what she thought would be a spooky, dark cellar and found a hidden wine cellar instead.](https://i2-prod.edinburghlive.co.uk/incoming/article28681626.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_Screen-Shot-2024-02-22-at-093221.png)
“One of those red [wine bottles] from 1984 is worth around £140 each,” one person pointed out. Another joked that they could use the money to buy a new boiler. “I’m a bit jealous of the wine,” another admitted. “You should open a bottle to celebrate when the house is finished.”
Another viewer added: “At least the wine cellar was stocked, every cloud has a silver lining!” The collection includes a Canepa Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile and a French Les Hauts de Castelmaure Corbieres. The value of these wines can vary based on their age and how they’ve been stored. But if the comments on TikTok are anything to go by, the couple might have over £1,000 worth of wine in their cellar.
You can watch the full TikTok video here