14 Comments
Jul 14Liked by Jules

I absolutely loved your article on the Viktor Wynd Museum! Your vivid descriptions make me feel like I’ve wandered through its surreal corridors myself. The eclectic mix of macabre and historical artefacts is fascinating. Your storytelling, combined with the quirky illustrations, brings this curious museum to life. Brilliant work!

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Thank you for this wonderful comment, Jon. I am so pleased you enjoyed it. It really was an odd experience but very...erm...unique!

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Our country or eccentrics has spawned some strange little places. Ut as you say, they do seem labours of love. Taxidermy, i always find amusing. Ditto waxworks. They feel of another era. I remember a police museum in Manchester I stumbled across with my son by chance one summer holidays. That was quirky too. Long may they continue!

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Yes those little stuffed mice were really odd because whilst they were cute they also made me feel rather queasy!

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What a journey you’ve taken us on, Jules. Loved this essay! I wish I had known about this when I lived in London, but will definitely need to check it out on a future visit. In the meantime, I’m fascinated by this Sebastian Horsley character and will be looking for the autobio at the library!

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So glad you enjoyed it, Michael. I think you would find Horsley interesting to say the least, but he was completely debauched. If I remember correctly all his suits were hand made and he always dressed as a dandy, with very high shoes and a big hat. He used to walk around Soho in full regalia. Lived in Meard St Soho. There are a couple of interviews on YouTube if you want to check him out. He was wild.

Thanks for reading!

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Oh how wonderful! I love an oddities museum. A few years back while in Berlin, I found there was a medical museum. You can imagine.

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I'll bet that was gruesome. I went to an exhibition of something similar in London once. Some of those old medical implements were terrifying!

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Oh god. You know, I am not one for trigger warnings but I wish I'd received one when we were taken to the Gold Rush museum in Bendigo when I was in primary school. What I saw about torture has stayed with me.

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Primary school!?! Eeh they bred us tough in those days!

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Right! There'd be letters to the board!

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Jul 14Liked by Jules

I secretly hope Victor Wynd was kind of a plain guy who just decided to create the best Cabinet of Curiosities ever made. Will make a mental note; was fully expecting this to be in the US but London is much more doable for a visit for me!

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There's a video of him on YouTube being interviewed and he's wearing a snake.😝 I suspect that what you see in the museum is what you get!😄

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Jul 14Liked by Jules

Yeah okay, case in point haha

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