Two seemingly ordinary Victorian terraced houses on a Westminster street conceal an extraordinary secret that has fooled passersby for over 150 years. Properties 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens in Bayswater appear perfectly normal from the front, complete with traditional sash windows and matching architectural details.
The attractive facades are entirely fake, featuring painted windows instead of glass and walls five feet thick. These mock houses were constructed during the 1860s to hide a large ventilation shaft for the London Underground, blending seamlessly with the surrounding Victorian terraces.
The deception becomes apparent only when viewed from behind, where the true extent of the facades is revealed. The properties lack letterboxes and have blocked windows, serving as subtle clues to their artificial nature.
Victorian engineering solution
The original houses were demolished to build a tunnel connecting Paddington station with Bayswater during Underground construction. Maskells Estate Agents states: "The houses at 23 and 24 Leinster Gardens were demolished to build a tunnel connecting Paddington station with Bayswater. The Underground uses this open-topped portion of the line to ventilate a large section of the surrounding Tube system, but the sacrificed homes were never reconstructed.
"This left a rather unsightly hole in an otherwise very sightly block of Empire 5-Story houses. And so, a false façade was constructed to conceal the wound. It matches its neighbours in every important detail, except that the windows are painted on, rather than being made of glass."
The Victorian engineers crafted the false fronts with extraordinary attention to detail, ensuring they would blend perfectly with neighbouring properties. The ventilation system continues to serve its original purpose, allowing steam and fumes to escape from the Underground network beneath one of London's most prestigious residential areas.
Viral social media discovery
Recent social media attention has brought renewed interest to the hidden architectural secret. A Facebook video showcasing both the convincing street frontage and the revealed railway opening from behind has captured public imagination.
The video creator noted the telltale signs, explaining that the properties have no letterboxes and blocked-up windows. Only by walking around to Porchester Terrace does the full extent of the deception become clear.
Social media users have drawn comparisons to fictional locations, with many referencing Grimmauld Place from Harry Potter, where Sirius Black's house remains hidden from non-magical people. Others noted learning about the facades through the BBC series Sherlock, while some joked about the surprise awaiting potential burglars.
Sources used: "MyLondon", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
