We’ve gone mystery mad here at Firebox, having put together a tantalising and unusual Mystery Box for the weirdo in your life who has everything. With contents worth over £50, the box contains 4 quirky gifts for your favourite oddball. What’s inside? Well, we’re not going to tell you that; it’s called the Mystery Box not the Obvious Box, you muppet.
Inspired by the curious creation of our secret gift, we’ve been sharing some of our favourite unusual British mysteries throughout history. From missing lighthouse keepers, to teeny tiny fairy coffins, these baffling true stories will have you scratching your head (and checking under your bed) for days. So which one is your favourite?
1. The Lighthouse Keepers of Eilean Mor
In January 1900, three lighthouse keepers completely vanished from Eilean Mor, a remote island off the coast of the Outer Hebrides. When the relief crew arrived at the lighthouse, they found that the kitchen clock had stopped and there were dinner plates full of food still on the table, but to this day the lighthouse keepers’ fate is still unknown.
2. The Campden Wonder
The ultimate mystery, William Harrison left his home one evening in 1660 and disappeared into thin air. Despite tales of witchcraft reaching fever pitch and even confessions to his murder, William returned two years later alive and well. But where the hell had he been?
3. The Mystery Box and the Panacea Society
At the end of the 18th century, 64-year-old Joanna Southcott, a self-described prophet, believed herself to be pregnant with the new messiah. She wrote a collection of mysterious prophecies which she locked in a box, hidden away until the end of days when it would be opened and its contents would save Britain. But where is it and what’s inside?
4. The Fairy Coffins of Arthur’s Seat
Two hundred years ago, a group of boys were hunting rabbits around Edinburgh’s Arthur’s Seat when they discovered a cave. Upon venturing inside, they found 17 tiny coffins laid out in a pattern on the ground. Each coffin contained a tiny doll dressed in handmade clothes, but their purpose has still to be identified.
5. Who Put Bella in the Wych Elm?
In 1943, the skeleton of a woman was discovered stuffed into the trunk of a wych elm tree near Hagley in Worcestershire. The murder had strange ritualistic qualities which took investigators on a mysterious, complex journey entangled with wartime espionage and black magic.
Think Outside The Mystery Box
After decades and centuries going by without these mysteries being solved, it’s unlikely that you’re going to find the answers from your sofa. However, if you’re gasping to solve your own little mystery then grab one of our Unusual Mystery Boxes and get to the bottom of what’s inside. It might make a sh*t podcast but we guarantee the contents will quench your curiosity and give you some cool stuff to play with.
