‘Heebie jeebies’: Homeowner unnerved by unusual discovery in home’s loft

A homeowner in the UK has been left unnerved after discovering a vase in their new home that appears to contain ashes. 

The owner claimed they made the unsettling find of a glass container containing a grey, sandy substance while exploring the loft area with a group of friends.

“I have just bought my first house and found what could be ashes in the loft,” the owner said in a post on social media platform, Reddit.

“There was a box of light fixtures that had been left behind but also an open vase filled about a quarter of the way up with a grey sandy like substance.”

The owner, who did not reveal their identity or where they live, said the group joked about the substance being human remains, but they questioned if it truly was.

“I asked why it would be stored in an open glass vase and not an urn, said it was more likely an old desert plant terrarium or something and we went about our day,” the owner wrote.

Yet, the question lingered.

“After going back to my friends house – since I don’t have any furniture or anything – I was feeling uneasy and said ‘what if it is some kind of remains? Is that even possible for them to be stored that way?’” the owner wrote.

The friends searched online for potential answers.

“After a quick google search, although unorthodox, yes people do sometimes buy open top glass urns that can discreetly pass as a vase especially if they’d like to incorporate flowers into their memorial,” the owner wrote.

The homeowner is now questioning how they can dispose of the substance.

“My question is, where do I stand legally with disposal? I’m under the impression that I cannot just scatter them without permission of the person whose loved one or pet it could be?” they wrote. 

“I have reached out to the estate agent but what if it isn’t the previous owner and it’s someone who lived in the house previously?”

The owner then turned to the Reddit community for answers. 

“What do I do? I am not a superstitious person but it feels wrong to just get rid of something like this but I also don’t want it in my new home,” they wrote. 

“It gives me the heebie jeebies a little bit and I’d also like to board the loft and potentially convert it in the future… I’d also like to make sure I’m respectful of the remains.”

The social media users responded in kind.

“If you don’t get anywhere with reaching the previous owners, assume it is ashes and respectfully bury them somewhere nice in the garden,” one person wrote.

“You will feel good within yourself that you were respectful and they will not be within the house any more. If it’s nothing, then you’ll have nothing buried in your garden.”

“I would discreetly bury them in a local woodland area or park if you have one nearby, so that if anyone contacts you, you can show them where to go and visit,” a second person wrote.

“Local vicar would be my first port of call. I’m sure it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing they’ve ever dealt with,” another person suggested.

Properties in Australia with lofts for sale right now

For Sale

506/6E Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

3

2

1

View property

Selling $735,000 - $785,000

326/14 Milford Street, Islington NSW 2296

2

2

1

View property

Guide $1,350,000

2/101 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011

2

1

1

View property