True crime enthusiasts are going on day trips to take selfies at the House of Horrors, where Fred West and Rose West were murdered.
Tourists are snapping themselves along Cromwell Street, Gloucester, where the duo raped, tortured, killed and dismembered women and girls during a 20-year reign of terror.
In 1994, the police began to investigate the area. Officers obtained a search warrant and searched for Fred and Rose’s missing daughter Heather. Heather was killed in the accident and later buried beneath the patio.
Eight more victims’ remains were discovered at the property number 25. It was later crushed in October 1996. It was replaced by a pathway.
But now the road has become a magnet for so-called ‘dark tourism’ – seeing visits by Instagram users who want to take the perfect selfie with the road sign and on the site where the house used to stand.
Cromwell Street is being overrun by selfie-taking people. This selfie was uploaded by Tornshaun in 2013.
Visitors and enthusiasts of true crime are taking pictures of themselves at the House of Horrors. Leigh Paul shared this picture last year with the caption ‘#Cromwell Street.
Scammy selfies: The so-called “dark tourists” regularly frequent Cromwell Street. This is the same street that used to be home to Fred West and Rose West, serial killers. Brett Bichard and Chris Buckley are among visitors in recent years.
One husband captured his wife pulling a stroller under the road signs. Rose was found guilty in November 1995 of ten murders. Fred was killed before the case was brought to trial. Rose was sentenced to life imprisonment.
True crime enthusiasts are flocking to the House of Horrors, where Fred West and Rose West were murdered. They’re taking selfies and day trips.
Rose West and Fred West may have killed nine or more women
Rose West with Fred West shortly after starting dating. Rose was just 16 and Fred was 29.
Following the 1994 arrest of Fred West (and Rose West) in 1994, officers searched 25 Cromwell Street’s gardens for additional evidence.
You can find a lot of Instagram snaps and selfies from the street.
An Instagram user calling herself Serialously-killer-collection took a picture of herself standing in the alleyway where the House of Horrors used to be.
It was marked as 25 Cromwell Street. She said, “As we pulled in to the street, there was a huge shirtless guy sitting outside his house in an actual chair watching us drive by.”
“We don’t park right outside the area we go to and try our best to be discreet, quick and respectful. This area seemed very dangerous and it was extremely uncomfortable.
Nellyd1977 uploaded a picture of the street, to which a follower replied “No way! Katie and me are coming here Saturday afternoon since we’ve watched all documentaries.”
Brett Bichard also took his wife to the spot.
An Instagram user calling herself Serialously-killer-collection took a picture of herself standing in the alleyway where the House of Horrors used to be
It was marked as 25 Cromwell Street. She said, “As we pulled in to the street, there was a huge shirtless guy sitting outside his house in an actual chair watching us drive by.”
Nellyd1977 shared a photo of the street and a follower responded: “No, Katie and I are not going to be there Saturday afternoon. We’ve seen all the documentaries.”
Pineapple Polar Bear, an Instagram user, posted an image showing the old pathway that used to lead to the house with the caption: ‘The site Fred West’s house.
Brett took a picture of them near the spot where 25 Cromwell Street once stood and posted it on Twitter. It was back when I could legally leave the country. My husband and I went to the House of Horrors.
Lambertyngr visited also the hotspot for murder, and captioned the photos with: ‘Some people use the annual leave they have to holiday at home, at the coast, or some other glamorous place.
I cycled from Bristol and Gloucester, to honor #cromwellstreet. Although the temperatures are boiling, I have the right chills.
Eleamirdawcett and a friend took a photo under the street sign, captioning it: “Murderinos of Gloucester” using hashtags #fredwest_and #myfavoritemurder”.
Another said: ‘We visited Gloucester last year and parked really close to Cromwell Street… Due to our sense of curiosity we found ourselves looking for Fred & Rose’s place, but it was demolished a few years ago and there’s now an alleyway…
This walkway connects the residential streets to the centre of town and is 150ft in length.
It was torn down to make way for a new public walkway that connects the residential streets to the centre of the city. This is the property at the beginning of demolition
“Best thing, but we could not help being #darktourists.”
One person posted a selfie next to the spot of the murderhouse and wrote: “In all the years that I’ve lived here in Gloucester, I’ve never had mine here lol.”
One person even captured his wife pushing the pram underneath the road signs.
Fred took his own life before the case was brought to trial. However, Rose was found guilty in November 1995 of ten murders and sentenced to life.
She is one of two women currently serving whole-life sentences in this country and will not be freed.
After being transferred from HMP Low Newton, she is now an inmate in HMP New Hall in West Yorkshire.
What are the victims Fred and Rose West’s?
Rose 10 was the victim of Fred West’s murder, and 12 other women were killed by him.
Anne McFall was West’s former girlfriend. She was, like all the other victims, found her body in a shallow grave. West denied it.
Both the warped couple used whips to torture both their victims and their own children.
Fred West committed suicide by hanging himself in a prison cell in January 1995 — before he could stand trial for the murders.
Rose West, a Durham prisoner of HMP Low Newton is still in custody. Rose West was awarded a rare whole life tariff’ for her involvement in the executions.
The following are confirmed victims
Charmaine West, eight:Charmaine West, Fred West’s stepdaughter by his first marriage was killed in 1971 by Rose.
Rena Costello, 27: Charmaine was visiting Charmaine to collect her first child Charmaine from Fred in August 1971 when Charmaine discovered that Charmaine’s mother Rena had been murdered. Charmaine being already dead, Fred is believed to have killed Charmaine in order to avoid an inquiry.
Lynda Gough (20).: Miss Gough was an intruder in West’s home. She was shot and killed in April 1973. Rose informed her mother that she moved to Weston-super-Mare.
Carol Ann Cooper, 15:In November 1973, the teenager was walking from her Worcester home to the cinema when she vanished. Her remains were discovered in West’s garden.
Lucy Partington (21).: After Christmas spent with her family at Cheltenham Miss Partington left to board a bus. Marian Partington was her sister and Martin Amis’ cousin.
Therese Siegenthaler 22:In April 1974, the South London student disappeared while trying to hitch-hike from Ireland to his death.
Shirley Hubbard 15: She was one of the Wests youngest victims. To allow her breathing, she had her head covered completely with tape.
Juanita Mott 18: Miss Mott (a former lodger at 25, Cromwell Street) was in Newent when her disappearance occurred.
Shirley Robinson (199):Miss Robinson, another lodger was also killed after she became pregnant with West’s child in 1978.
Alison Chambers (17):She disappeared as a teenager in August 1979. Her remains were discovered later beneath the Patio at 25, Cromwell Street.
Heather West (17): Heather was repeatedly raped multiple times by her father. Heather reported the abuse to friends and her parents murdered her to silence her.