It’s the most wonderful time of the year: we’re deep into Spooky Season.
London has been home to millions upon millions across the many centuries, which means one simple thing – it’s super haunted.
The Museum of London is full of oddities and artefacts from the city’s beginnings, from disturbing dolls to mummified remains.
Have a look at some of the objects in the collection to get you in the spine-tingling state of mind.
Oliver Cromwell’s death mask
Oliver Cromwell's death mask is particularly detailed, even showing a wart and growth on his lower lip. A gentleman farmer from Huntington, Cromwell became Lieutenant-General of the parliament forces during the Civil War and then Lord Protector of England from 1653 until his death in 1658. He died of natural causes, but after the restoration of the monarchy, his body was dug up and hanged. His severed head was then stuck on a pole outside Westminster until 1685.
Georgian doll with human hair
Dolls have always had something haunted about them, but this one is particularly creepy. It is made from wood, with glass eyes and human hair, a common feature in 18th and 19th century dolls. The dress, made from fine silk, was probably recycled from a human garment, and covers three petticoats. The Museum of London has around 60 dolls with human hair, so good luck sleeping after seeing those.
Mummified chicken and leather shoe
Lauderdale House is an elegant Tudor House in Highgate, which now hosts exhibitions and concerts – so it’s the obvious place to find a mummified chicken in the walls. Bricked up in a recess of the house, it is thought that the builders put it there, along with a shoe, to ward off evil spirits. Of course, it’s always possible someone was playing a practical joke...
Mummified cat and rat
No such thing as too many mummies. This mummified cat and rat were found behind some bottles at the London Docks in the 1890s. Cats were allowed to run freely around the warehouses to keep control the vermin. Some were even paid – the Post Office budgeted one shilling per week for working cats. Sadly, some of these industrious felines may have been deliberately bricked in when building houses (like the chicken), or walled up by accident having chased their prey into a tight spot.
Newgate burial cross
The lead cross is one of more than 80 found with a number of human bodies buried outside the city wall at Christ’s Hospital on Newgate Street. They are thought to represent the mass-burials of prisoners who died of disease at the Newgate Gaol in the 18th century.
St. Thomas Becket’s flask of blood
This pewter ampulla – a small flask used by pilgrims to collect holy water – is adorned with the likeness of St. Thomas Becket lying on a funeral pyre. It was said to have held a small amount of his blood, which was believed to have miraculous powers such as curing all diseases and bringing the dead back to life. The Latin inscription on the handles translates to “Thomas is the best doctor of the worthy sick”.
German witch bottle
This 17th century stone jug made in Germany has been reused as a witch bottle. It was found with a heart-shaped piece of felt pierced with pins and eleven nails inside, and would have been used as a charm to prevent witchcraft (so they say).
Ann's memorial ornament
This small, gold-mounted memorial ornament is decorated with the intricately carved and skeletal figure of death and marked with the inscription: ‘Ann Rogers ob 3 ap 16(83)’. Who knows who Ann Rogers was, but no doubt, she’s somewhere now delighted that this trinket has remained for posterity.
