Imagine living next door to a perfectly preserved flat—frozen in time for over a decade.
No movement, no sounds, just the eerie stillness of a life left behind.
That’s exactly what residents of a Victorian mansion block in Margate, Kent, had grown used to.
For 13 years, one apartment sat locked and untouched, its former occupant vanishing without a trace.
When the doors were finally forced open, what lay inside raised more questions than answers—and a whole lot of speculation.
A Haunting Scene Behind Closed Doors
The abandoned flat, set in a grand seafront building, had once belonged to a woman who mysteriously disappeared in 2009.
When locksmiths drilled into the apartment in 2022, neighbors braced for the worst—some even feared they’d find a skeleton.
What they saw instead was strange, unsettling… but not criminal.
A bathtub and sink stained dark red turned out to be from hair dye, not blood.
Yet, the rest of the flat suggested a life abruptly abandoned.
Dishes in the sink. An unmade bed. Racks of fashionable vintage clothes and scattered family photos.
The jewelry was gone, as was any cash—but everything else was left behind.
Was She Running From Something?
The woman—who had reportedly hinted at work in Westminster—appeared to have vanished in a hurry.
Her hair had recently been dyed, possibly to change her appearance.
She left behind books in multiple languages, exotic furnishings, and foreign mementos, giving off the air of someone cultured, perhaps even secretive. It didn’t take long for whispers to start.
Was she a spy? Had she been in danger? Author David Whitehouse certainly thought there was a story worth telling.
Turning Mystery Into a Bestseller
Whitehouse, a local writer, heard about the strange case through his hairdresser and spent a year digging into the mystery.
He published a book called Saltwater Mansions, a fictionalized account of the woman’s disappearance.
Using the alias “Caroline Lane,” he changed names, dates, and even locations—but not everything was covered up.
Enough clues remained for journalist David Jones to launch his own investigation, determined to unearth the real story.
Revealing Her Real Identity
Jones quickly uncovered the woman’s real name: Andrea Pacey.
Far from a complete unknown, Andrea had some high-profile connections. Her brother, Steven Pacey, was a TV actor known for roles in Blake’s 7 and Lovejoy.
Another brother, Peter, appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
The family had a history of public success—Andrea, however, remained a mystery.
In 2004, she bought a large flat in a run-down part of Margate called Cliftonville.
The building, formerly a Butlin’s hotel, had been converted into flats and was later identified as the real “Saltwater Mansions.”
A Glamorous Life in a Gritty Area
Andrea’s choice of residence raised eyebrows.
Why would a woman with such apparent sophistication choose one of Britain’s most deprived areas? Especially when the commute to London was long and tedious? Some neighbors remembered her saying she worked in Parliament, the Foreign Office, or even the Italian embassy.
Her flat reflected a jet-setter’s life: foreign CDs, art books, bamboo furniture, candles around a four-poster bed, and letters written in French, Spanish, and Italian.
Signs of a Secret Past
There were more hints, too. A building manager recalled sensitive “government documents” being found in her flat—House of Commons material that had to be shredded.
Could this really be the residue of a spy’s past? While no one could confirm it outright, there was definitely an air of official secrecy surrounding her.
And despite living in the building for five years, she barely spoke to anyone.
A Disappearing Act After a Dispute
Things came to a head in May 2009. During a heated residents’ meeting, Andrea clashed with others over repair costs and voted against every proposal.
Just days later, she was gone. Her mail piled up behind the door.
Bills went unpaid—except, strangely, for her mortgage and maintenance fees, which were quietly handled by her bank for years.
Neighbors didn’t alert the authorities; people came and went in these flats all the time. But Andrea never returned.
The Long Silence Breaks in 2022
It wasn’t until a new management company took over in 2020—11 years after Andrea vanished—that they began trying to find her.
She owed nearly £20,000 in fees, prompting a legal effort to repossess the flat.
In 2022, they finally got inside. What they found was both eerie and pristine. No dust. No cobwebs.
No foul smell. As if someone had just stepped out to grab coffee and never came back.
Leftover Clues and Lingering Questions
The bathroom fixtures were oddly loosened, as though pulled from the wall.
Her bed still held the shape of her body in the sheets.
Family photos and candles remained, untouched.
No partner was ever identified, and there was no sign of a struggle.
The place fetched £195,000 when sold, with most of the proceeds held in escrow—still waiting for Andrea to claim them.
A Brief Contact, Then Silence Again
Whitehouse eventually contacted Andrea’s brother, Steven, who was reportedly shocked to learn she had disappeared.
He said he needed to speak with her before commenting further.
Later, he told the author she didn’t wish to talk, but added, “I just want you to know that ‘Caroline’ is a nice person.”
He has not responded to further requests.
Final Thoughts on a Vanishing
So what really happened to Andrea Pacey? Was she escaping danger, hiding a secret life, or simply choosing to disappear?
In a digital world where almost everyone leaves a trail, she managed to vanish without a single online footprint.
The only remaining clue is a photograph left on her bedside table.
Perhaps the mystery of “Saltwater Mansions” will one day be solved.
For now, Andrea remains a ghost of Margate’s coastline—silent, hidden, and endlessly intriguing.