Spinner's End is a street, on which sits a house that is the summer home of Severus Snape. It is stated to be one of several streets of identical brick, presumably terraced, houses. It is near a dirty river, the bank of which is strewn with litter. A mill (presumably a woollen or cotton mill) with a tall chimney is close by. This rather bleak background suggests it is located within a run-down industrial area, possibly in northern England. It is revealed to be near Lily Potter's childhood home.