Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom England Southend-on-Sea Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet

A magnificent menagerie of oddities, including taxidermy cryptids.

Southend-on-Sea, England

Added By
Nick
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Opening hours.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet.   nicholasabateman / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Sometimes the quiet seaside suburbs can hide the strangest things. In this collection of curios tucked away on a quiet Leigh-on-Sea street between the Waitrose and the corner shop, you will find everything from obscure movie props to taxidermy cryptozoological specimens.

The first thing you’ll notice about Cranfield’s Curiosity Cabinet is the seasonally changing window display. It may have anything from a human skeleton enjoying a can of beer from its deckchair looking out on the pavement to Santa swinging from the ceiling, riding on the back of swan. This roadside presentation gives a pretty good indication of what wonders are to be found within.

The cabinet consists of a front room lined with a wide array of large taxidermy animals of all kinds presented in a host of poses. Behind a suitably mysterious curtain, you might be led to a second room. It's here where things get truly weird.

Recreations of famous movie monsters from Gremlins to Del Torro’s underground dweller in Pan’s Labyrinth sit alongside five-legged fawns and any number of mythical beasts. All of which have fantastic whimsical portmanteau names that your hosts will be more than happy to share with you. Ask about the krittens, for example. This room can be hired out for your own events. It's perfectly suited for that Addams Family-themed dinner party or seance you were planning.

A third room contains even more strange things, many of which are not on display and a polite request and a big smile may get you a glimpse further into the rabbit hole, should you want to dip your toes deeper into this bizarre world. The collection is used for events of all kinds, from private parties hosted in the back room to conventions and photoshoots around the country. 

Related Tags

Stores Oddities Shops Taxidermy Cryptozoology Cryptids Collections

Know Before You Go

As a result of this busy schedule of touring the animals, masks, and displays around, the shop keeps odd and somewhat inconsistent hours, only adding to the unpredictable nature of the collection.

Community Contributors

Added By

nicholasabateman

Published

October 23, 2019

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.gluseum.com/GB/Leigh-on-Sea/358919224286873/Cranfield%27s-Curiosity-Cabinet
  • https://www.instagram.com/thetaxidermist
Cranfield's Curiosity Cabinet
1199 London Rd
Southend-on-Sea, England, SS9 3JB
United Kingdom
51.548023, 0.657098
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Cutlass Stone

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Graveyard of Lost Species

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Dutch Cottage

Essex, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea

England

Places 3

Nearby Places

The Cutlass Stone

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Graveyard of Lost Species

Southend-on-Sea, England

miles away

Dutch Cottage

Essex, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Southend-on-Sea

Southend-on-Sea

England

Places 3

Related Stories and Lists

13 Surprising Places to Find Taxidermy

List

By Roxanne Hoorn

Related Places

  • Natural Selection.

    Reno, Nevada

    Natural Selection

    This mother-daughter run curiosities shop is a beautifully odd mix of taxidermy and exotic plants.

  • Extinct woolly rhino skull.

    Toronto, Ontario

    SkullStore Oddity Shop

    A collection of human remains, animal body parts, and other macabre curiosities all legally for sale.

  • Merchandise display at Sideshow Gallery

    Chicago, Illinois

    Sideshow Gallery

    This art gallery and oddities boutique bewitches visitors with a trove of occult trinkets and eccentric antiques, work by an ever-changing roster of underground artists, and classes in tarot and other mystic arts.

  • A “Dime Museum”

    Idaho Falls, Idaho

    Shaddow Domain

    This combination shop and museum is filled with curious items and artifacts.

  • Treasure of Untold Fortune

    Seattle, Washington

    Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop

    This Seattle store is packed with all sorts of curious creatures and creations.

  • The The Weeping Glass.

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    The Weeping Glass

    A beautiful oddities shop crammed with strange and morbid curiosities.

  • Tons of items

    North St Paul, Minnesota

    Studio Payne Oddities Shop

    Admire the art and then buy a raccoon skull cleaned by flesh-eating beetles.

  • Bazaar

    Baltimore, Maryland

    Bazaar

    Crammed into a Baltimore row house is an oddities shop that sells everything from skulls to dead insects.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.