Mystery of young child’s skull found in house

DETECTIVES were called in after a child’s skull was discovered in a macabre collection at a Birmingham house, sparking a mystery which could date back 300 years.

Police were called to a terraced house in Wiggin Street, Ladywood, after being tipped off about the remains.

The swoop followed the death of eccentric home-owner David Marsh, a collector of macabre memorabilia and gothic items.

Detectives were alerted after his widow, Valerie, told the local vicar about the skull, which her late hus- band had been handed as a gift. Unusually, a full inquest was held into the death of the child whose skull had been on display.

Mrs Marsh, 62, said her husband David had kept the skull in the house for more than 30 years after receiving it from a grave digger.

Detective Sergeant John Garbett, from the West Midlands Police Homicide Unit said: “The house outside is strange-looking with a black veil covering the front door. The inside was bizarre, very Gothic and from a bygone age, macabre in appearance.

“Mrs Marsh’s husband was an eccentric character and collected strange items. She said he had an interest in the macabre – and, in particular, human skulls.

“The couple used to live in South Elmsall in Yorkshire, not far from the Humber Estuary. She said her husband was handed the skull as a gift by a grave digger at Moorthorpe Cemetery in South Elmsall more than 40 years ago.

“The skull then came with the couple when they moved to Birmingham, and has been in the house ever since.

“When he died recently she decid- ed to inform the local vicar.”

The skull was sent to the University of Dundee for forensic testing by experts.

The sex of the child could not be established, but the youngster was aged between four and nine at the time of his, or her, death.

Tests revealed the child could have died at any time between 1692 and 1944. Examination of teeth suggested the child had mainly a fish diet, suggesting a home near the coast.

Emma Brown, coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, recorded an open verdict.