Museums are places where history comes to life, showcasing artefacts that tell the stories of past civilisations, cultures, and people. However, not all objects within their walls have a benign history. Some are believed to carry dark and mysterious powers, earning reputations as cursed objects. From strange accidents to unexplained deaths, these artefacts have left a trail of misfortune and terror in their wake.
The UK’s rich history and vast collections of ancient relics mean that its museums are home to numerous artefacts with strange, unsettling stories. Here are 10 cursed objects found in British museums that have baffled curators and terrified visitors for decades.
The Unlucky Mummy – The British Museum
One of the most infamous cursed objects in British history is the so-called Unlucky Mummy, housed in the British Museum. This artefact is not actually a mummy, but the wooden lid of a mummy case, dating back to around 950 BCE. The curse associated with the Unlucky Mummy has become legendary, with stories of misfortune, accidents, and death following anyone who comes into contact with it.
The curse supposedly began when the artefact was brought to England in the late 19th century. Several individuals involved in the mummy’s transport and exhibition allegedly suffered mysterious deaths or severe accidents. One notable tale involves a journalist who, after mocking the idea of the mummy’s curse, died within a week.
The Unlucky Mummy was also said to have been aboard the RMS Titanic when it sank in 1912, though this has been debunked by historians. Nevertheless, the object’s reputation as a bringer of bad luck persists, with many visitors to the British Museum reporting feelings of unease or even sickness after viewing the artefact.
The Basano Vase – Location Undisclosed
The Basano Vase is a silver vase believed to have been made in the 15th century, though its origin remains uncertain. Legend has it that the vase was a wedding gift for an Italian bride. On the night of her wedding, however, she was found dead, clutching the vase in her hands. The bride’s family, believing the vase was cursed, hid it away. Over the centuries, the vase resurfaced several times, each time bringing death to its new owners.
The vase allegedly made its way to Britain sometime in the 20th century, though its exact location remains a mystery. It is said that after a string of deaths, the vase was buried, accompanied by a note warning anyone who found it not to disturb it. There are reports that it was unearthed in the 1980s, leading to further tragedies.
While the Basano Vase is not currently displayed in any museum due to its chilling history, the object is still linked to the UK and its folklore, with many wondering whether it could resurface once again.
The Hexham Heads – The British Museum
In 1971, two stone heads, now known as the Hexham Heads, were discovered in a garden in Hexham, Northumberland. The heads, small and carved out of stone, are believed to date back to the Celtic period. However, shortly after their discovery, a series of bizarre and terrifying events began to unfold, leading to speculation that the heads were cursed.
The family who found the heads reported hearing strange noises, such as footsteps and whispering, in their home. Even more frightening, they claimed to have seen a werewolf-like creature stalking their property. A neighbour also reported witnessing a half-man, half-beast figure in the area. The heads were eventually handed over to researchers, but the strange occurrences continued, with objects moving on their own and unsettling phenomena following those who studied the artefacts.
The heads were later given to the British Museum for safekeeping, though they are not on display. Some researchers believe the heads are linked to ancient pagan rituals, possibly intended as protective or malevolent objects. Their strange history remains unsolved.
The Crying Boy Painting – Various UK Locations
The Crying Boy is a series of mass-produced prints by Italian artist Giovanni Bragolin, which became incredibly popular in Britain during the 1950s and 60s. The painting depicts a young boy with tears streaming down his face, and while it may seem like an innocent piece of art, the painting soon gained a reputation for bringing bad luck and tragedy.
In the 1980s, a string of house fires across the UK were reported in which the Crying Boy paintings were the only objects left unscathed. Firefighters and investigators began to notice the bizarre pattern, leading to rumours that the painting was cursed. Some speculated that the boy in the painting had died in a tragic accident and that his spirit haunted the artwork.
Though many dismissed the curse as superstition, the painting’s strange immunity to fire was enough to make people believe. To this day, stories of the cursed Crying Boy painting resurface, with some believing that owning the artwork brings misfortune. Many of these prints still exist in homes and various locations around the UK.
The Cursed Amethyst – The Natural History Museum, London
Known as the Delhi Purple Sapphire, this gemstone has a dark reputation for bringing ill fortune to anyone who possesses it. Discovered in India during the British colonial period, the amethyst was looted from a temple in Kanpur during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. From the moment it was taken, the stone was associated with tragedy and misfortune.
The man who brought it to England, Colonel W. Ferris, was plagued by illness and financial ruin. Believing the gem to be cursed, Ferris passed it on to a friend, who soon after took his own life. The stone changed hands several times, with each new owner suffering similar fates of bad luck, illness, or death.
In 1890, the amethyst came into the possession of Edward Heron-Allen, a scientist and writer who also experienced misfortune while owning the stone. Heron-Allen eventually locked the amethyst away in a bank vault, refusing to handle it again. Upon his death, he left instructions that the stone should be kept under lock and key and not disturbed for at least 33 years.
The Delhi Purple Sapphire is now housed in the Natural History Museum in London, but it is not on public display. Despite its beauty, the stone’s cursed history makes it one of the most feared objects in the museum’s collection.
The Hair of Robert the Bruce – Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum
In 1818, the tomb of the Scottish king Robert the Bruce was opened, and some of his remains, including locks of his hair, were removed. These relics were later displayed in various museums, including the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum. However, some believe that the removal of the king’s hair sparked a curse.
Robert the Bruce is remembered as a national hero in Scotland, but his remains have been the subject of much intrigue and speculation. Over the years, several individuals who came into contact with the hair reported experiencing bad luck, illness, or even death. While there is no scientific evidence to support the curse, the unsettling reputation of the relics has persisted for centuries.
Today, Robert the Bruce’s hair is still kept at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, though it is rarely displayed due to its controversial history. Some say that disturbing the remains of such a powerful figure was an act of disrespect, and the curse is simply a reflection of the consequences.
The Hand of Glory – Whitby Museum
One of the most macabre objects in any museum is the Hand of Glory, an artefact believed to have magical powers. This item, currently housed in the Whitby Museum, is the preserved hand of a hanged criminal, used in folklore and witchcraft rituals.
According to legend, the Hand of Glory had the ability to render people motionless and unlock doors, making it a favourite tool of thieves and criminals. The hand was often combined with a candle made from the fat of a hanged man, and it was said that when the candle was lit, the occupants of a house would fall into a deep sleep, allowing the thief to rob them undetected.
The Whitby Museum’s Hand of Glory was discovered hidden inside a wall in the early 20th century. Since its discovery, the museum has experienced reports of strange occurrences, including sudden temperature drops and flickering lights. Some believe the hand still retains its magical properties, while others see it as a relic of a darker time in British history.
The Screaming Skull of Burton Agnes Hall
Burton Agnes Hall, located in East Yorkshire, is home to one of the UK’s most famous cursed objects: The Screaming Skull. According to legend, the skull belongs to Anne Griffith, one of the daughters of Sir Henry Griffith, who built Burton Agnes Hall in the early 17th century.
Before her untimely death, Anne requested that her skull be kept in the house after her passing. However, her family ignored this wish, burying her in the local churchyard. Soon after, strange events began to occur in the hall—disembodied screams, objects moving on their own, and violent disturbances plagued the family. Believing the cause to be Anne’s restless spirit, the family exhumed her skull and placed it in the hall, where it remains to this day.
Visitors to Burton Agnes Hall have reported hearing eerie wailing and seeing ghostly figures in the hallways. The skull is believed to be cursed, with some saying that removing it from the hall will bring disaster upon the family. The Screaming Skull has become an iconic part of the hall’s history, though its unsettling presence continues to haunt both residents and visitors.
The Blarney Stone – Blarney Castle
The Blarney Stone, located in Blarney Castle in Ireland, is one of the most famous stones in the world. Legend has it that anyone who kisses the stone will be blessed with the “gift of the gab”—the ability to speak eloquently and persuasively. However, there is also a darker side to the Blarney Stone’s legend. Some believe that the stone is cursed and that taking a piece of it will bring misfortune.
Over the years, many visitors have attempted to steal small fragments of the Blarney Stone as souvenirs, only to find themselves plagued by bad luck. Some have returned the stolen pieces to the castle, along with letters begging for forgiveness and recounting tales of accidents, illness, and financial ruin that followed their theft.
Although the Blarney Stone remains a popular tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors kissing it each year, the warnings of a curse have not deterred those seeking to test their luck. Whether the stone’s powers are real or simply a matter of superstition, the Blarney Stone continues to captivate the imagination.
The Annabelle Doll – Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies
Though not housed in a British museum, Annabelle is one of the most famous cursed objects associated with the UK, primarily due to its notoriety in popular culture and horror films. The real Annabelle doll, which inspired the films, is an innocent-looking Raggedy Ann doll that is said to be possessed by a malevolent spirit.
Annabelle first gained attention in the 1970s when paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called in to investigate strange occurrences surrounding the doll. The doll was reported to move on its own, leave threatening messages, and even attack those who came into contact with it. The Warrens eventually took the doll into their care, placing it in a glass case in their occult museum, where it remains to this day.
Annabelle’s story has become a modern legend, with many attributing accidents and strange events to the doll’s curse. The Miskatonic Institute of Horror Studies in London has explored the psychological and cultural impact of the Annabelle doll, drawing parallels between historical cursed objects and modern depictions of evil artefacts in horror media.
These cursed objects, housed in British museums and beyond, are more than just historical relics—they carry with them a legacy of fear, misfortune, and the unknown. Whether you believe in curses or not, the strange events surrounding these artefacts remind us that history is often darker and more mysterious than we imagine. Visiting these objects might give you more than just a glimpse into the past—you could experience the eerie sense of unease that so many others have felt before.
