Dynamite, sex toys – and liver? Readers on the weirdest things they’ve found in a new home | Homes

‘Once I opened the suitcase, I fell backwards and screamed’Our new home had as soon as been the house of a ferry boat captain and his household. The earlier house owners requested that we eliminate something left behind. “We’re going to discover a physique,” I informed my husband as we thought-about the piles and piles of issues within the den, the storage and the attic.It took a yr of remodelling the home earlier than I lastly bought round to sorting by means of the sheds. There was a variety of rotting junk: mouse-eaten baseball caps, a wood bat, outdated cassette tapes and a really giant suitcase. Once I opened the suitcase, I fell backwards and screamed. My husband and neighbour got here operating up the driveway. It was a physique in two components: a full head of hair, arms, fingers and a torso in a single half; legs and toes in observe pants and sneakers within the different. Each halves wore an Adidas tracksuit.We peered inside to get a greater look. She was a full-size resuscitation doll, most likely used to coach ferry personnel in first assist and rescue. My husband checked out me, his mouth extensive open and his eyebrows raised. “I informed you so,” I stated. BL, Washington, US‘They had been completely, disgustingly stunning’I moved into the home in 2006, nevertheless it took me virtually 10 years to enterprise correctly into our loft. It had been partly floored already, however I wanted to complete the job to create an arts studio for my research.The loft was utterly empty, or so I assumed. After poking about, I discovered a service bag wedged within the roof. Inside had been about 10 pairs of outdated, worn-out, Nineteen Seventies-style Y-fronts. The invention amused and disgusted me. One pair had a brand that stated “Half Method Inn”; one other, in white, had a grubby brown color on the entrance. I stored the 4 finest pairs and put them on show within the studio. The pants could be horrible to most individuals, however they fascinated me and made me chortle. They had been completely, disgustingly stunning.A few years after the invention, I began relationship. My boyfriend didn’t perceive my fascination with the pants – he’s the other of me and really typical. Once we determined to maneuver in collectively, he strongly made the purpose that I wasn’t allowed to convey them. It was him or the pants. I did think about hiding them. Oonagh, Angus, UK‘Our discovery defined the guilt-ridden prayer-meeting notes’My husband and I purchased a property just a few years in the past from a pair. Once we first visited the house, the spouse was carrying an unmissable gold cross. She took cost of the viewing whereas her husband appeared relegated to the storage.After the couple moved out, we discovered a Bible sitting on an out‑of-the-way shelf within the storage. I flicked by means of it and located a folded sheet of paper with particulars of a prayer assembly. It belonged to the husband of the cross-clad former proprietor of the home. Written on the sheet of paper had been the phrases: “Why I’m at this prayer assembly as we speak,” to which he had scribbled the response: “As a result of I all the time really feel responsible.”Some months later, we observed a blackbird flying out and in of the storage. It was constructing a nest and we wished to see whether or not eggs had been laid. My associate went inside and climbed up a ladder. That they had nested in a hard-to-reach nook. Subsequent to the nest sat a smartphone. After we charged the cellphone up and switched it on, a ransomware discover flashed up, naming the prayer-meeting husband because the proprietor of the cellphone. Being pretty tech-savvy, it didn’t take an excessive amount of effort to take away the ransom discover – and we had been offered with a browser web page devoted to hirsute aged girls, that includes a dozen or so images of women having fun with themselves. This appeared to elucidate his guilt-ridden prayer‑assembly notes. Nameless‘Two weeks after the canine ate the thriller meat, my mum bought a cellphone name’Once I was in my 20s, with a new child, I moved again to a flat my mum owned. She had rented it out to a different girl who had lately given beginning. They solely lived there for six months, however that they had made their mark on the place: their canines had eaten the cushions off the couch; it was an actual mess.Whereas cleansing, I discovered a service bag within the freezer that appeared like a lump of liver. I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t know what completely different cuts of meat appear to be. We had a canine, so we put the thriller meat outdoors within the again backyard and he ate it. We didn’t suppose something of it, then two weeks later my mum bought a cellphone name. It was the earlier tenant, who stated she had by chance left her placenta behind and requested for it again. Mum didn’t inform her the canine ate it – she stated it had been thrown away. You wouldn’t count on such an necessary factor to be left behind within the freezer … Melissa, Pembrokeshire, UK‘I’m so glad I had cleansing gloves on’In 1986, I purchased my first flat. Whereas clearing out the fitted wardrobes that got here with it, I discovered a free service bag tucked beneath a drawer. I opened it up and inside was an merchandise that I assumed appeared like a person’s willy. I used to be proper. On additional inspection, I realised it was a used, battery-operated vibrator. I’m so glad I had cleansing gloves on.My aged mum was with me after I found the bag. I stated: “Oh, that may go within the bin.” Unaware of its contents, my mum replied: “She most likely doesn’t realise she’s left that and may need it again. It’s best to ring her.” After some forwards and backwards, I confirmed her my discovery. She appeared for a minute after which stated: “Oh good God! Your father can take it to the tip.” I shoved it right into a black bag with a lot of different issues that wanted to go. Dad by no means knew what was inside. Sally, Wiltshire, UK‘I had by no means dealt with explosives earlier than’I moved into an outdated farmhouse with my spouse and her daughter within the early Nineteen Seventies. The earlier proprietor misplaced his mood quite a bit in our dealings with him; if we stated one thing he didn’t like, he would elevate his voice and put his fist up within the air. He frightened the wits out of my solicitor and I stored my contact with him as little as potential.Once we moved into the home, he nonetheless had his animals and possessions within the outbuildings. When he lastly took his stuff with him, I had a go searching. In the dead of night nook of a room, lit by a single bare bulb, I discovered an outdated cardboard field labelled Nobel – the identify of an explosives producer with a manufacturing unit close by. I used to be fairly positive what I used to be going to search out after I opened it. The field contained three or 4 sticks of explosives and detonators that appeared model new.I had by no means dealt with explosives earlier than, so I phoned the police. It took them three hours to search out me. After they arrived, I confirmed them what I had discovered they usually stated: “Oh sure, these are explosives,” and off they went. The subsequent day, the bomb-disposal squad arrived, in a Morris Traveller, of all issues, to take away the objects. One in every of them returned from the outbuilding with the field and a broad smile on his face. I came upon later that the explosives had began to turn into unstable; they’d have gone off with a nasty bang if that they had detonated. Alan, Wales, UK‘I left it out for the bin males, however I used to be fearful they could suppose it was mine’In 1996, I moved right into a home with my daughter. The earlier house owners, a pair with two youngsters, had been portly and eccentric. They left in such a rush that some issues had been forgotten. Whereas cleansing out a cabinet in the master suite, I discovered a shocking merchandise lodged on a high shelf: a flesh-coloured rubber intercourse swimsuit made for 2 individuals. It was stuffed into its unique packaging – after, I assume, being taken for a take a look at run; it didn’t look pristine.It was a really odd intercourse merchandise. It had directions on the entrance on the way to rub your bits collectively. Vibrators are one factor; full-body intercourse fits are one other. Given their plump stature, I wasn’t positive how they’d have gotten into it, by no means thoughts out of it. It definitely would have restricted blood provide. I left it out for the bin males, however I used to be fearful they could suppose it was mine. They’re all the time asking for a tip, however who is aware of why. Possibly they’re after some hush cash. NT, London, UK‘I laughed out loud with shock and a type of horror’Twenty years in the past, I purchased an enthralling residence, however the inside was a uncared for mess. I quickly discovered myself on my knees within the toilet, washing across the again of the bathroom, after I encountered a small, crumpled package deal tucked out of sight. It was a handkerchief tied round one thing. My coronary heart thumped wildly. May they be jewels?Sadly not. I unfolded it and gasped to see 5 lengthy, yellowy-brown enamel crammed closely with gold. I laughed out loud with shock and a type of horror. The property agent gave me a forwarding deal with, so I wrote a observe to the earlier house owners telling them of my discover, however I by no means obtained a reply. I popped the enamel right into a glass jar, considering someday I’d do one thing with them.I later bought the house and moved out of city. Whereas at my native procuring centre, I noticed a stall shopping for gold. I knew what I might promote. I tumbled the enamel on to the counter. The lady behind the until wasn’t fazed; she’d seen all of it earlier than. “Are they your father’s enamel?” she requested. “God, no,” I stated, shocked on the suggestion. She bought out some heavy-duty pliers and commenced crushing the enamel to separate the gold from the enamel. She put the nuggets on the scales and supplied me A$60 for the lot. I rapidly refused, as that appeared like an actual rip-off. Years later, the stays of the golden enamel are nonetheless in that cup jar. Silda, Sydney, Australia‘The earlier house owners had left pennies on all of the window sashes …’ Composite: Guardian Design; Tetra Photos/Getty Photos‘The pennies weren’t a lot a goodwill want as an try at poltergeist safety’I used to be ecstatic when my household and I moved to an outdated Victorian-era home on Lengthy Island. After shifting in, I observed that the earlier house owners had left pennies on all of the window sashes. I had no concept what it meant, however since they had been good individuals, I figured it was a gesture of goodwill on their half, representing good needs for our future in the home.A number of years later, as I used to be preparing for mattress, I heard a cacophonous racket within the attic above – the noise of somebody stomping up and down and throwing bins and furnishings round. I despatched my husband as much as see what was occurring and he discovered nothing: nobody there; not a single merchandise misplaced. At that time, the phrase “poltergeist” popped into my thoughts. I’m not afraid of ghosts; I used to be charmed by the thought that we had been sharing our new (outdated) home with one.Now, I believe the pennies weren’t a lot a goodwill want as an try at poltergeist safety. It’s nonetheless a thriller to me. Nancy, New York, US The contributors featured on this article responded to a Group callout. 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