The Gate House was a secluded mansion on the edge of the new forest in Hampshire, England.

It was 8.30pm on the 1st of September 1986.

The residents had just finished dinner and were about to enjoy dessert.

And that's when three men wearing stocking masks and armed with a shotgun and pickaxes

burst into the dining room.

The Gate House was located in Fortingbridge, a town in Hampshire, England, on the edge

of the new forest.

There was originally an old farmhouse that was converted into a large mansion.

It was situated at the end of a long winding driveway, on a large site of 14 acres, buried

behind trees, in what was a very quiet and secluded spot.

The couple that lived there were Joseph and Hilda Cleaver.

They were quiet, yet social people were liked in the community.

Joseph Cleaver was 82 years old, a successful retired publisher.

His wife Hilda was the same age and was confined to a wheelchair after suffering a stroke.

They originally used the house as a holiday home before moving in full time when Joseph

retired.

On the 1st of September 1986, Joseph and Hilda Cleaver were enjoying the company of their

son Tom Cleaver, 49 years old, and his wife Wendy Cleaver, 46 years old.

Tom and Wendy were helping out as the living cook and handyman had just been fired.

So Tom was looking after his elderly parents, keeping an eye on things, until replacements

could be found.

Desert had just been served by their elderly housekeeper, Margaret Murphy, 70 years old.

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