3 Uncommon Cursed Objects That Would Make Good Stories

The Chained Oak, Staffordshire, England

Three Uncommon Cursed Objects That Would Make Good Stories

Cursed objects are often the basis for scary stories. As with the haunted house trope, it’s creepy to think objects and places in our daily lives might have a sinister side. Common cursed objects include jewels, chairs, stolen artifacts, and representations of people: paintings, dolls, and statues. But here are three lesser-known cursed objects that might make a good story.

The Chained Oak

Alton, Staffordshire, England is home to a very large oak with chains wrapped around it. It’s possible this was done in the 1800s to help preserve the gorgeous tree, but the legend, as usual, is much more interesting. Supposedly, it’s not the tree itself which is cursed, but the local Earl of Shrewsbury, who failed to give assistance to an elderly woman he met one day. In anger, she told the earl that every time a branch fell from the tree, someone in his family would die. Hence, the chains.

The Curse upon Senicianus

How about an actual written curse from Roman Britain? Rib 306 details the theft of a ring by a man named Senicianus. The inscription curses anyone named Senicianus until the ring is returned (which seems a bit broad, to be honest). We have no idea if the ring ever made a reappearance.

The Haunted Ledger

In the 1980s, demolition work in Brighton revealed a jeweler’s shop ledger dating to 1915, stored inside a wall. The man who found the ledger took it home, but his family soon reportedly experienced creepy events like images of people appearing in a rug. (How’s that for unusual?) The ledger was eventually donated to Preston Manor, a haunted house and museum. The ledger itself appears to be a completely normal record of sales, so it’s unclear why it would be cursed—which is probably even creepier.

If we can take any lessons from these three objects, they would be: don’t be rude to the elderly, don’t steal rings, and don’t…sell jewelry in 1915. Which is all pretty easy to do! Happy writing!

You can also read about some unusual vampires, rare cryptids, strange werewolves, and weird ghosts which might make good characters, and haunted places that might make good settings.