August 22nd 2024.
Meet Joel Griggs, the curator of the True Crime Museum. As he leads visitors through the eerie exhibits, he is always careful to gauge their reactions and ensure they are comfortable with the gruesome content. Recently, he came across a young girl and her mother peering at acid containers once owned by infamous British serial killer John George Haigh. The little girl, in a sing-songy voice, commented on the acid's ability to dissolve human remains. Joel couldn't help but smile at the girl's innocent curiosity, while her mother looked on with a mix of shock and fascination.
As they continued their tour, Joel explained the history behind each item in the museum, including love letters from infamous killers, like Richard Ramirez, and the bath used by contract killer John Childs. Despite the dark past of many of these objects, Joel is careful not to glorify the crimes they represent. He believes it's important to acknowledge and learn from the reality of these events, rather than shy away from them. As he says, "You can't wrap someone in cotton wool and pretend that these things never happen. There are bad people out there."
One of the most recent additions to the museum is a pair of white underpants worn by notorious killer Rose West during her time in prison. Joel was careful to display them in a respectful manner, alongside the full story of West's crimes. He explains, "We don't celebrate these crimes, but we can't ignore their impact on society." The underpants were obtained by a former prison officer who worked at the prison where West was housed, and they also offered to donate letters exchanged between the two. However, Joel declined, as they were mundane and unremarkable, with West asking about soap opera plotlines and sharing recipes.
The True Crime Museum is not for the faint of heart, but it is also not without its lighter moments. In the staff room, amidst the creepy collections and grisly gadgets, there are hand-drawn pictures of London's infamous gangster brothers, the Kray twins. There is also a note from a local paranormal group, who claimed to have made contact with Jack the Ripper during a seance. Although Joel is not a believer in the paranormal himself, he couldn't help but ask if they had discovered the true identity of the notorious killer.
As the True Crime Museum celebrates its tenth birthday, Joel reflects on how it all began. His interest in crime stems from his father, who worked alongside the Metropolitan Police in London. His father's collection of macabre objects, ranging from taxidermy seagulls to vintage pinball machines, inspired Joel to create a museum of his own. He used his redundancy money to bring his dream to life and has been sharing his family's unique collections with the public ever since.
Joel's passion for true crime and his dedication to running the museum can be felt in every corner of the building. He is constantly seeking new ways to engage visitors, from hosting paranormal nights to highlighting the stories of killer mothers on Mother's Day. With the True Crime Museum located in the seaside town of Hastings, visitors can enjoy a day at the beach before delving into the dark and fascinating world of crime. As Joel puts it, "It's an unexpected treasure trove on Britain's coast... if you're into that sort of thing."
Joel Griggs, the curator at the True Crime Museum, is passionate about revealing the shocking and often gruesome stories behind some of the most notorious crimes in British history. As he leads visitors through the museum, his knowledge and enthusiasm shine through, making the experience both informative and entertaining.
One young girl, accompanied by her mother, can't help but express her curiosity and shock at the towering acid containers on display. Her sing-songy voice exclaims that the acid has dissolved the head of one of the victims, causing it to turn into sludge. Her mother, slightly taken aback, asks for clarification, to which the girl confidently responds that it is indeed sludge. It's moments like these that showcase the true impact of the exhibits on display at the True Crime Museum.
The museum, located in White Rock, Hastings, is home to a variety of chilling artifacts, including the acid barrels once owned by the infamous John George Haigh. This British serial killer was known for his heinous crimes, which involved dissolving his victims in vats of sulphuric acid. As the young girl and her mother continue their tour, it becomes clear that the museum is not for the faint of heart. But Joel believes that it is important to face the reality of these crimes and acknowledge that there are bad people in the world.
Among the exhibits are love letters from sick fans to serial killers, and a section dedicated to John George Haigh, also known as the Acid Bath Murderer. The True Crime Museum, surrounded by a picturesque beach and the sounds of seagulls, may seem like an unexpected location for such a macabre collection. But for those who are fascinated by the darker side of human nature, it is a treasure trove of eerie items.
One of the most talked-about exhibits is a pair of white underpants worn by the infamous killer Rose West during her time in prison. Joel explains that they were obtained through an auction for £2,500, along with some letters that were exchanged between West and a former prison officer. However, he decided not to display the letters as they were mundane and did not add any value to the exhibit. Instead, the underpants are presented in a tasteful manner, with the whole story of West's crimes alongside them.
Joel has also turned down donations from crimes that may be triggering for the local community, such as items related to the Billie-Jo Jenkins case. He believes that it is important to be respectful and considerate of the impact these crimes have had on people's lives.
As visitors make their way through the museum, they can also compare their own height to some of the most infamous figures in crime history. But there is one room in the museum that is just like any other staff room, with desks, paperwork, and even a few hand-drawn pictures of the notorious Kray twins. Joel also shares a strange blue scribble on a white sheet of paper, which was made during a seance by a local paranormal group. While he is not personally interested in the paranormal, he can't help but be intrigued by their claims of making contact with the infamous Jack the Ripper.
With the True Crime Museum celebrating its tenth birthday, Joel reflects on the past decade, which has seen him oversee paranormal nights and crime walks from the museum. His interest in crime was sparked by his father, who worked alongside the Metropolitan Police and had a passion for collecting macabre items. When Joel was made redundant from his job in 2011, he decided to use his redundancy money to turn his dream of opening a museum into a reality.
Today, the True Crime Museum continues to attract visitors from all over the world, who are fascinated by the chilling stories and artifacts on display. And as Joel continues to educate and entertain visitors, he keeps in mind the importance of being respectful and sensitive towards the victims and their families.
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