Legend of the Highland Skull Mon, 07 Sep 2026 12:41:49 +0100 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2644450 en-gb © 2026 Legend of the Highland Skull yes 61b32b2e-040c-5c6b-811d-f902bf36da98 Grantown Museum and Jac Phillimore episodic false A centuries-old Highland tale of forbidden love, warfare and a legendary curse will be brought into the modern spotlight this September when true crime style investigation meets medieval mystery.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Grantown Museum and Jac Phillimore https://storage.buzzsprout.com/1vw4yp09ql2bm8obxy5x9gjxbjte?.jpg Legend of the Highland Skull https://www.buzzsprout.com/2644450 Episode 1 - The Harrods Box Episode 1 - The Harrods Box A skull in a Harrods food hall box, a 19th-century letter, and the start of a medieval love story that reshaped three Highland clans, the Grants, the MacGregors and the Comyns (later the Cummings). This is the start of a story of forensics, Scottish clans, morbid fascination, medieval life in the Scottish Highlands and an ancient curse.

In this episode, Dan Cottam, curator of Grantown Museum, explains how he came to be holding a human head,  a skull sawn cleanly across the forehead and fitted with a hinge. He decides he needs to know who this person is.

Lord Reidhaven, a direct descendant of the Clan Grant chiefs, describes how he came across the skull in a Harrod’s box in his father’s home, after years in storage, and explains why he brought it to the museum. He tells Dan what he knew of the skull growing up, its legend and its curse. He reads the opening of the letter written in 1857 to the Countess of Seafield, known as the last of the great feudal chiefs, a letter which tells of the legend surrounding the skull.

Storyteller Isobella Hubbard takes us through the start of the legend, while Dan Cottam details the historical context of medieval Scottish HIghland life relating to the story.

Dan meets Cat Irving a Human Remains Conservator from the Surgeons Hall Museum Edinburgh, who examines the osteological traits of the skull. She explains her thoughts on the crude metal hinge and hook attached to the skull. Has the skull been buried at some point?

Dan’s thirst for the truth is whetted. Is this a man or woman, how did they die, how old were they, and above all how old is the skull? 


 If you love Highland clan history and want to find out more about historical characters in this story, such as the Countess Dowager of Seafield, sign up to Grantown Museum's newsletter. Go to grantownmuseum.co.uk/legends and click the newsletter link. 


Credits


Dan Cottam - Presenter and Grantown Museum curator

Jac Phillimore - Producer

Isobella Hubbard - Storyteller

Cat Irving - Human Remains Conservator, Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Edinburgh

Lord Reidhaven - Descendent of the Grant clan chiefs 


This project was delivered in partnership with The Space and Museums and Heritage Highland. 


It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.



]]> A skull in a Harrods food hall box, a 19th-century letter, and the start of a medieval love story that reshaped three Highland clans, the Grants, the MacGregors and the Comyns (later the Cummings). This is the start of a story of forensics, Scottish clans, morbid fascination, medieval life in the Scottish Highlands and an ancient curse.

In this episode, Dan Cottam, curator of Grantown Museum, explains how he came to be holding a human head,  a skull sawn cleanly across the forehead and fitted with a hinge. He decides he needs to know who this person is.

Lord Reidhaven, a direct descendant of the Clan Grant chiefs, describes how he came across the skull in a Harrod’s box in his father’s home, after years in storage, and explains why he brought it to the museum. He tells Dan what he knew of the skull growing up, its legend and its curse. He reads the opening of the letter written in 1857 to the Countess of Seafield, known as the last of the great feudal chiefs, a letter which tells of the legend surrounding the skull.

Storyteller Isobella Hubbard takes us through the start of the legend, while Dan Cottam details the historical context of medieval Scottish HIghland life relating to the story.

Dan meets Cat Irving a Human Remains Conservator from the Surgeons Hall Museum Edinburgh, who examines the osteological traits of the skull. She explains her thoughts on the crude metal hinge and hook attached to the skull. Has the skull been buried at some point?

Dan’s thirst for the truth is whetted. Is this a man or woman, how did they die, how old were they, and above all how old is the skull? 


 If you love Highland clan history and want to find out more about historical characters in this story, such as the Countess Dowager of Seafield, sign up to Grantown Museum's newsletter. Go to grantownmuseum.co.uk/legends and click the newsletter link. 


Credits


Dan Cottam - Presenter and Grantown Museum curator

Jac Phillimore - Producer

Isobella Hubbard - Storyteller

Cat Irving - Human Remains Conservator, Surgeons’ Hall Museum, Edinburgh

Lord Reidhaven - Descendent of the Grant clan chiefs 


This project was delivered in partnership with The Space and Museums and Heritage Highland. 


It is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.



]]> https://www.grantownmuseum.co.uk/legends.html Grantown Museum and Jac Phillimore Buzzsprout-19729777 Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0100 1339 history, highlands, scotland, true crime, heritage, mystery, story, Scottish clans, Scottish wars of Independence, forensics, human remains, medieval, Grants, Grant , MacGregor, Comyn, Cumming, Cummings, Robert the Bruce, Victorian, letter, museum, museum 1 1 full false Introducing: Legend of the Highland Skull Introducing: Legend of the Highland Skull   Let us tell you of a story that's been handed down through generations.  

 One that connects the Clan Grant to their land and tells us of the beginning of a dynasty.   

A legend that begins as a love story and ends in bloody murder and fatal folly.  

 And let us tell you of a gruesome memento, cursed to remain in the hands of the family who have ruled in Strathspey for hundreds of years.  

Join us as we breathe new life into this tale and discover what truths lie beneath the Legend of the Highland Skull... 

 this is our trailer  - first episode launching soon..

]]>   Let us tell you of a story that's been handed down through generations.  

 One that connects the Clan Grant to their land and tells us of the beginning of a dynasty.   

A legend that begins as a love story and ends in bloody murder and fatal folly.  

 And let us tell you of a gruesome memento, cursed to remain in the hands of the family who have ruled in Strathspey for hundreds of years.  

Join us as we breathe new life into this tale and discover what truths lie beneath the Legend of the Highland Skull... 

 this is our trailer  - first episode launching soon..

]]> Grantown Museum and Jac Phillimore Buzzsprout-19728936 Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0100 131 full false