An Empty Mansion
The opulent building was used as Wayne Manor just seven years ago in the 2012 Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises. Now the mansion stands vacant. The vermin and inexperienced ghost hunters with rotting and graffitied walls are the only things scuttling through the dwindling hallways. The Rainbow House has become a dark shell for ghosts. What happened there?
An Empty Mansion
A Couple From England
From Staplewood, England, Matt Topham and Cassey Carrington were an ordinary couple. While the couple was deeply and madly in love, nothing exciting in their lives ever really happened. So they never imagined what a twisted road they were heading down when these two high school sweethearts joined the Euro Lottery.
A Couple From England
All Luck
The young couple had just found their feet in adulthood, at just 23 years of age. As a painter and decorator, Matt worked, and Cassey worked as a local store supervisor. The two were more than content with their lives in their one-bedroom apartment. Casey and Matt did not buy lottery tickets every week, but they wanted to try their luck when they saw that the jackpot was sitting at $60 million. And they, surprisingly, won!
All Luck
Living A Modest Life
In the beginning, Matt and Cassey were remarkably humble and generous with their winnings. Their priority was a simple wedding for themselves, then new vehicles. They moved out of their apartment in the same area where they stayed and purchased an average-sized house. The young couple felt they had all of their problems fixed. They had no idea, however, that this was the beginning of something entirely unthinkable.
Living A Modest Life
A Generous Couple
On a few holidays, the Tophams went and showered their mates with presents. Most importantly, they gave $1.7 million to one of their close friends to help him and his parents get out of debt. At the time, a source told The Sun, “It’s a fantastic gesture and proves [that they] don’t intend to leave their friends behind.” It wasn’t long, however, until the pair wanted to upgrade… And made a huge mistake.
A Generous Couple
The Historic Rainbow House
In Nottingham, on the grounds of Wollaton Hall, the historic Rainbow House is situated. Adams Hill, locally called ‘Millionaires’ Row,’ which runs parallel to the A52 Derby Lane, accesses the house. It is also known for its role in The Dark Knight Rises, the 2012 Batman film. The mansion was all Matt looking for. For many individuals, this seven-bedroom mansion will be a dream come true. But that was just the beginning for Matt and Cassey of a horrible nightmare.
The Historic Rainbow House
It Was A Heritage Home
Constructed in the 1930s, the Rainbow House mansion was an art deco heritage home. The young couple purchased it for a cool $1.6 million. “I have often painted these huge houses and wondered what it would be like to live in one. Now I can find out.” But seven years later, the property has become infamous in the local area.
It Was A Heritage Home
They Didn’t Move In Right Away
Although the mansion was all theirs, Matt and Cassey did not move in right away. They had big plans, you see, for that exquisite home. The overall cost will be just over $6 million for this initiative. But with only about $60 million from the bank, the Tophams barely beat an eyelid. The couple decided to demolish the current house from scratch and build a home on the property with eight bedrooms. When the plans were announced, however, they had all the locals raising their eyebrows.
They Didn’t Move In Right Away
A ‘Teletubby-Style’ Home
Basically underground, the new design will be called a “Teletubby-style” home by the newspapers. As well as a swimming pool and a cinema, solar panels were their eco-friendly vision. They had the goal of adding to the property a second house and constructing a 10-car garage. And, ironically, they gave the house “Serenity” for its name. However, none of this will come to pass.
A ‘Teletubby Style’ Home
They Had To Halt
Although Matt and Cassey’s designs for the mansion were big and bold, they were optimistic they would accomplish them. With millions of dollars in the bank, what could go wrong, after all? Matt and Cassey soon got to work on their major project, but their renovations soon came to an abrupt halt for an unknown reason.
They Had To Halt
They Bought Another House
Matt and Cassey certainly made it. They bought the mansion and bought another house for their closest friends and relatives in particular. With so much money in their bank, it was surprising that something had forced them to leave the project completely. Instead of an imaginative new building emerging in its place, the Rainbow House remains empty and essentially unchanged. What happened?
They Bought Another House
A Horror House
Seven years ago, the iconic mansion had the potential to become a dream home. The decaying and graffiti house, the stuff of nightmares and the city blight, is now empty. The sprawling farm is overgrown with whispering grass. The mansion stares emptily from the hill with its windowless eyes. For teenage rebels looking for a thrill, the house has become a hot spot, and the hellish mansion doesn’t disappoint.
A Horror House
Nottingham’s Scariest Place
Residents say that vandals routinely break into the property to smash items, set fires, and commit other crimes, despite being embedded with high-security fences surrounding the entire property. It was not long before the derelict house became known as the “scariest place in Nottingham to have your photo was taken,” which only attracted more ghost hunters, of course. Which only drew, of course, more ghost hunters.
Nottingham’s Scariest Place
Messy Place
Neighbors complain about the land constantly. From a garden that “looks like a forest” to the offensive graffiti that covered the mansion’s exterior because of how untidy and unkempt it is. One told the Daily Mail, “The Tophams have shed loads of money and should be spending some to end this farce – or at least on security.”
Messy Place
It Was Unsafe
In an interview, another neighbor explained, “We have been told by the council that all the toilets have been smashed, leaving the drains open. That, in turn, attracted rats,” the neighbor continued, “There is also an empty swimming pool, which is a real danger too. I’m surprised no one has been seriously hurt in there.” So, when all this was going on, where were Matt and Cassey?
It Was Unsafe
She Was Pregnant
Cassey found out she was pregnant just when Cassey and Matt thought life couldn’t get any better! The two soon-to-be-parents finally felt as though their family was complete. While Cassey and Matt had their new fortune in their lives, their dream mansion was completely overlooked by the couple. They were unaware of what condition it was in.
She Was Pregnant
It Was Disgusting
When Cassey and Matt returned to the mansion to see what all of the fuss was about, they were disgusted to see it in such a state. Toilets were smashed, trash was thrown all over, and rats and other creatures were running wild. Supernatural symbols were spray-painted on the walls, and the entire house was a death trap and a significant health and safety hazard. The neighbors were livid that Cassey and Matt had let it get so bad. Still, things were on the brink of getting worse.
It Was Disgusting
Too Expensive To Build
It is perhaps shocking, taking all this into account, that the house has not already been demolished. But even though planning permission had been given, the plans were placed on hold because the “Teletubby” house became too expensive to build. As a result, no action was taken, and Rainbow House was allowed to fall into disrepair.
Too Expensive To Build
Lucky Kids With Bad Taste
“They’re fortunate kids, with horrible taste,” said a neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous. While another neighbor said, “Not too much sense in it.” “It almost seems like they dreamt it up and decided to do it without thinking.” Another neighbor, who also asked not to be identified, also said: “It is a bit of an eyesore though; it won’t be long until it starts crumbling down. It’s been there for years, and nothing’s changed with it, so I wouldn’t be surprised if nothing happens for a good long while yet.”
Lucky Kids With Bad Taste
It Was Barricaded
The local council is well aware, though, of the issue. In fact, the UK’s ITV quoted a recent Council report saying, “The house has been the victim of anti-social behavior, vandalism, countless arson, and nuisance fire attempts, and is now in a state where every opening has been blocked up… and secured by steel sheets.” And what about the ghosts that are said to have haunted the house?
It Was Barricaded
Demolishing The House
A new application considering the state in which the property is located is likely to be considered by the council, so the Tophams have asked the police to apply on their behalf for the house’s demolition. That said, although the couple obviously had plans to build another house on the property, there has been no hint of what it would look like so far. And the only “ghosts” in the house are the ghosts of a lost opportunity.
Demolishing The House