Visiting London and want to see something 'different'?

[mrsukyankee]

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1. A burial ground for plague victims

The plague of 1665 killed an estimated 100,000 Londoners (20 per cent of the city’s population) in seven months, so it’s hardly surprising that there are a few burial grounds still knocking about right under our feet.

One such graveyard is St Olave’s churchyard in the City of London, where 365 plague victims were buried. Among them is Mary Ramsay, the woman blamed for bringing the plague to London. The gate at the entrance to the church (pictured above) just adds to the freakiness.

2. A dead guy in a cabinet

Jeremy Bentham auto icon at University College London

While most of us prefer either coffin or cremation, 19th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham’s last wish was to be seated in his favourite chair, in the position he normally sat in to think, dressed in his favourite clothes and encased in a glass box.

His wish was granted, and he is now sitting in a corridor of UCL in a cabinet that is opened for public display during the week.

The only part of him that is missing is his head, which is now safely stored in a vault at the university, after it was stolen by a rival college. The head on show has been replaced by a wax version.

3. The executioner’s bell

Executioner's bell at St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, London

The executioner at the notorious Newgate Prison would ring this bell 12 times to the condemned on the morning of their execution. It’s now on display at St. Sepulchre-without-Newgate church.

4. Human brains

Hunterian museum crystal gallery, London

The Hunterian Museum at the Royal College of Surgeons houses over 3,000 animal and human specimens in various stages of dissection. Among their collection lies several examples of human brains.

5. The mice of Philpot Lane

Mice of Philpot Lane, London

At first glance, a tiny statue of two mice tucking into some cheese on the side of a building isn’t grizzly one bit. Until, that is, you find out that they were put there in memorial to two men who died fighting over a cheese sandwich while working on The Monument just round the corner.

The story goes that, finding his lunch half-eaten, one of the men accused his colleague of eating it and a fight broke out on the scaffolding. Both men tragically fell during the fight and died instantly.

Later, after similar (less tragic) instances of missing food, the real culprits were discovered: an infestation of mice on the building site.

6. A death warrant signed by Elizabeth I

The Tudors have developed a (not undeserved) reputation for chopping people’s heads off, and Elizabeth I was no exception. A death warrant for the Earl of Essex, signed by the Queen herself, is now on public display in the Treasures Gallery of the British Library.


7. Execution dock

Execution dock, London

This site in Wapping was the final destination for criminals found guilty of crimes at sea for over 400 years.

The condemned were hanged at the site, after which their bodies were left for the tide to wash over them three times. This served as a warning for those entering the city by the river to behave.

And condemned pirates faced an even worse fate: their bodies were cut down, tarred and then left in cages around the city. Grim.

8. The ghost of a chicken

Close up of alert chicken standing in suburban neighborhood

Ok, so we admit you might struggle to visit this one, but it’s so weird and grizzly that we couldn’t resist.

Legend has it that Pond Square in Highgate is haunted by the spirit of a chicken that Sir Francis Bacon killed and then stuffed with ice in 1626.

The chicken is said to appear to unfortunate locals but fades away when it is chased.

9. A jar of moles

Jar of moles at the grant museum, london

This tiny horror show is the star attraction at The Grant Museum at University College London, which also houses half a pregnant cat (as in, halved length-ways) and a penguin skeleton among its delightfully weird collection.

10. A wall of dog heads

Well, we did warn you this list would be gruesome… This wall of doggy heads has been on display at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill since the 1920s, when they were bought from a London taxidermist.

11. This Chinese torture chair

Chinese torture chair at the Wellcome Collection, London

Well, we say torture but curator Dr Ken Arnold from the Wellcome Collection (where the monstrosity is on display) believes that the chair could never have been used for its intended use since any unfortunate victim would have died instantly the moment they sat down. Instead it probably would have been used as a threat for psychological torture. And we can see why.


I actually love the Hunterian museum - it's very cool if you are into the human body. And the Wellcome Collection in general is fabulous.

[mrsd2006]

Nightmares for days, I'll pass.