The museum looks after an amazing collection of over 130,000 objects which cover natural history, geology, archaeology, social history and art. Amongst these objects there are some that to us living in the modern world may find strange, curious or just weird.
Many tell fascinating stories about the past, when strange folklore and the supernatural was a common part of daily life, especially in more rural areas of Buckinghamshire. Witchcraft was often a blend of herbalism, folklore and the remnants of pagan practices.
The Victorians particularly had a fascination with death and many objects both memorialised the dearly departed as well as reminding their loved ones of their own impending death. The ancient Egyptians had their own beliefs about death and would preserve the human body for the afterlife, but they also practiced animal mummification.
Then there are things that tap into our most primordial fears, such as the fear of the dark, which writers and film makers have exploited to feed our vivid imaginations with stories of blood-sucking bats and giant spiders.
Come and judge for yourselves how ‘weird’ these objects are and discover the fascinating stories behind them, from witch bottles to hidden shoes to ward off spirits, a mummified cat to a duck-billed platypus.
Book now or feel free to just drop in, check our opening times here.
Entry to the exhibition is included in your standard admission charges.
