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Behind the Facade
The big reveal? Numbers 23 and 24 are nothing more than elaborate stage sets in the city’s urban theatre. Their purpose? To hide the gaping void left by the old Metropolitan Line’s railway tracks. These houses are London’s very own magic trick, a clever solution to an industrial problem, disguised as everyday Victorian homes.
Flashback to the 1860s: the Metropolitan Line is under construction, using a method that involves digging down, laying tracks, and then covering it all up again. Unfortunately, two real houses had to be demolished to make way for progress. Instead of leaving an unsightly gap, the powers that be decided to keep up appearances for the sake of the neighborhood’s charm. Thus, the fake houses were born, complete with front doors that lead nowhere and windows that see nothing.