It may appear to be just an ordinary doll, but this particular figure has earned a notorious reputation for its dark and unsettling history. Known as the world’s “most haunted doll,” the bridal doll named Elizabeth is said to be possessed by the vengeful spirit of a jilted bride.
Allegedly responsible for attacking 17 men, Elizabeth now resides at the Haunted Objects Museum in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where her eerie presence continues to incite fear and intrigue.
The acquisition and the haunting
Lee Steer, a 37-year-old paranormal investigator, became the owner of this infamous doll after purchasing it for £866 (approximately $1135) on eBay.
Drawn by reports of Elizabeth’s hostility towards men, Steer soon discovered that the tales were more than just rumours.
According to Steer, the doll has inflicted physical harm on men, leaving some with mysterious injuries. He has been a victim, experiencing a burning sensation on his neck during an investigation in the museum’s bridal doll room. Later, he found scratches on his back in the shape of a pentagram. “It seems like the doll has a hatred towards men. There have been well over 15 people who have come to me to say they have been scratched. It is all men and never a woman that it has attacked,” Steer told The New York Post. Steer’s partner, 32-year-old Sarah Carter, shares his unease, avoiding the bridal doll room altogether due to the doll’s menacing presence.
Elizabeth’s paranormal activity
The haunted doll’s activities go beyond physical attacks. According to Steer, Elizabeth has also been responsible for triggering fire alarms, moving objects around the museum, and even throwing a perfume bottle across the room. During one paranormal investigation, she caused electronic interference in video footage, with the words “bride” and “haunting” mysteriously appearing repeatedly.
Another paranormal investigator, 34-year-old Jon-Paul Kenny, reported a similar unsettling encounter with Elizabeth while filming a live TikTok session at the museum. “I felt someone grab my shirt, and my skin was touched. It was 100% the bridal doll that did this to me. I wasn’t scared, but it put me on edge,” Kenny recalled.
Jealousy or something more?
Speculation abounds as to why Elizabeth exhibits such aggressive behaviour, particularly towards men. According to a report in The Daily Star, Steer suggests that the spirit within the doll may be acting out of jealousy. The museum recently acquired a famous artefact from the horror film series The Conjuring, which features a possessed doll named Annabelle.
“Why she (Elizabeth) is doing it is a mystery. Some people think she was treated badly by a man, and some think her wedding went wrong, so this is why she haunts a bridal doll,” Steer explained.
Adding to the theory, Steer mentioned that Elizabeth might feel overshadowed by the new addition to the museum. “Elizabeth has always been the centre of attention in the museum, and now we’ve got famous items from The Conjuring. Maybe she is feeling a bit forgotten, so she is making herself known in the most extreme way,” he speculated.
As Elizabeth continues her reign of terror at the Haunted Objects Museum, her unsettling presence raises more questions than answers. Whether motivated by jealousy or some other unknown force, this haunted doll has firmly established herself as one of the most terrifying objects in the paranormal world.