In June of 1836, a group of boys set out for Arthur's Seat looking for rabbits. In a small opening in the rock, almost hidden from view, they found something else. Seventeen miniature coffins, each one containing a small wooden figure, dressed in hand stitched clothes. But who put them there, and what did they represent?


Sources and further reading:


'Mystery of the Miniature Coffins', NMS: https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/stories/scottish-history-and-archaeology/mystery-of-the-miniature-coffins/


'Murder Dolls', Atlas Obscura: http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/burke-hare-murder-dolls


Wikipedia - Arthur's Seat / Anatomy Act 1832 / Burke and Hare Murders / Grave Robbery

11: Edinburgh's Miniature Coffins

Oddity: the podcast which explores all things strange and unexplained.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

In this episode of Oddity, we take a look at a bizarre murder case which occurred in Colorado in 1941: the tragic death of Philip Peters at the hands of a man best known as The Denver Spider Man.


Sources and further reading:


Wikipedia – Theodore Edward Coneys


Theodore Coneys, Murderpedia: http://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/coneys-theodore.htm

3: The Denver Spider Man

A screaming skull is a human skull which, according to legend, disturbs the house in which it's kept by screaming, speaking, or causing other disturbances. In the case of a few of these skulls, they are the focus of hauntings which stop when the skull is laid to rest – but in the majority of stories, the act of removing the skull from inside the house is what sparks off the trouble.


Sources and further reading:  


Westwood, J. and Simpson, J. 2005. The Lore of the Land.

Westwood, J. and Simpson, J. 2008. Haunted England: The Penguin Book of Ghosts.

Clarke, David. 1991. Ghosts and Legends of the Peak District.

Roberts, Andy & Clarke, David. 'Heads and Tales: The Screaming Skulls legends of Britain', in Moore, Steve (ed). (1996) Fortean Studies. Volume 3. John Brown Publishing. London. pp.147-150. In Calvariae Disjecta: The Many Hauntings of Burton Agnes Hall.

Wikipedia - Screaming Skulls, Red Barn Murder, Appley Bridge

'Screaming Skulls', Paranormal Database: http://paranormaldatabase.com/reports/skulls.php

'The Cursed Skull of Tunstead Farm', Ludchurch blog: https://ludchurchmyblog.wordpress.com/places-of-interest-in-cheshire/the-cursed-skull-of-tunstead-farm/

'The Ghost of Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum', Lancashire Folk: https://lancashirefolk.com/2013/11/27/the-ghost-of-ripleys-believe-it-or-not-museum/

'The Pack Horse Inn History', Affetside Village website: http://affetside.org.uk/pub_history.htm

'Legend of the Screaming Skull', Real British Ghosts: http://www.real-british-ghosts.com/screaming-skull.html

2: Screaming Skulls

The historic market town of Pontefract is perhaps best known for its liquorice. But since the late 60s, the town has also been known for something not quite as sweet. In this episode of Oddity, we take a look at the famous 30 East Drive haunting, and its supposed resident Black Monk.


Sources and further reading:   


Wikipedia - When The Lights Went Out  


The Black Monk of Pontefract, Ghost Story.co.uk: http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/index.php/poltergiests/273-the-black-monk-of-pontefract-yorkshire-uk  


30 East Drive website: http://www.30eastdrive.com/   


'Poltergeist: A Classic Study in Destructive Hauntings", 1981, Colin Wilson, p. 146-7

1: The Black Monk of Pontefract

Here in the UK, badly behaved children might discover that on Christmas morning, Father Christmas has left them lumps of coal or raw potatoes instead of toys and sweets. But in some other parts of Europe, the punishment for misbehaving is a whole lot worse. Saint Nicholas still brings presents for the good children, but naughty kids should, frankly, be terrified. Legend says that they're in for a visit from Saint Nick's less friendly companion - Krampus. 


Sources and further reading:


'The Changing Mask of Krampus', Al Ridenour, Fortean Times, FT 348.
Wikipedia - Krampus / Companions of Saint Nicholas
Street Parade to Mark Latest Krampus Run, Whitby Gazette: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/street-parade-to-mark-latest-krampus-run-1-8737926
9 Facts About Krampus, Mental Floss: http://mentalfloss.com/article/71999/9-facts-about-krampus-st-nicks-demonic-companion
How to Blend in at an Alpine Krampus Parade: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-blend-in-at-an-alpine-krampus-parade
Krampus Run around the Munich Christmas Market, Muenchen.de: http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/events/christmas-market/krampus-run.html
Austrian town reassures asylum-seekers over unusual Christmas tradition, Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/12024686/Austrian-town-reassures-asylum-seekers-over-unusual-Christmas-tradition.html

17: Krampus

In 1978, a young woman went to the papers with a strange tale. She had fallen through a hole in Crystal Palace Park, and stumbled upon a train carriage full of skeletons. But how did this story come about?


Sources and further reading:


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CrystalPalacepneumatic_railway / Crystal Palace Park / The Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace Dinosaurs / Church Hill Tunnel
Crystal Palace Pneumatic Railway: Lost Tunnels & Creepy Urban Legends, Urban Ghosts: https://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2014/10/crystal-palace-pneumatic-railway-lost-tunnels-urban-legends/
Crystal Palace Skeletons, Silent Thrill: https://silentthrill.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/crystal-palace-skeletons/
Tunnel Vision, Subterranea Britannica: http://www.subbrit.org.uk/tunnelbase/sites/p/paxton/index.shtml
'The Crystal Palace Skeletons', Tom Brown, Fortean Times, FT 315.

11: Edinburgh's Miniature Coffins

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