This striking Victorian carved wood mirror was discovered at an auction in Shropshire. Purchased by a man interested in the old wooden hand tools that came in the same auction lot, the mirror was stored within an old wooden chest. After bringing the chest home, the new owner was able to examine the contents of the chest properly. In addition to the tools of interest was a ‘very dusty, old and really quite disturbing’ Victorian doll. According to the man’s testimony, ‘a rusty screwdriver had been stabbed through the doll’s abdomen’, seemingly in a ritualistic fashion. Underneath the doll was the mirror. From his first interaction with it, the man thought it was ‘very dark and disturbing’, most especially the scratches on the back. In addition to odd lines and symbols was the hand-etched phrase, ‘Help me.’ The scratches were, in the owner’s words, ‘horrific’.

Unhappy with the items being in his house, the owner subsequently ‘put the doll into my fire pit and burnt it along with the wooden chest that it was in.’ As for the mirror, he wanted nothing more to do with it and so sought to have it removed from his home.

reports of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

Since entering the Rowtons’ care, there have been many unsettling reports of paranormal activity connected with the mirror.

In terms of personal experiences, Laura Rowton reported an immediate burning sensation when she first unpacked the mirror to confirm it had not been damaged in transit.

It was as though it were hot to the touch – on fire, somehow.

Laura Rowton

The pungent smell of urine has also been repeatedly experienced in close proximity to the mirror, with the smell manifesting suddenly, and then disappearing almost as quickly. During its temporary storage in a secure outbuilding on the Rowtons’ property, the couple also experienced heavy sensations and strange noises that seemed to be connected to the item. On one occasion, visitors to their home who were unaware of the item’s existence or whereabouts even reported hearing a ‘growl’ coming from the corner of the building where the mirror was being stored.