A maritime superstition said it was unlucky to “save a stranger from the sea” for “he’ll turn your enemy”. There was a belief that the one who saved the other, would soon be drowned themselves... #MorbidMarch 🎨Niss

Balls of light have been reported hovering over various stretches of water on the Scottish lochs, sometimes stationary, then moving fast and dropping down into the water. In local lore such lights were thought to foretell death, and upon seeing them, fisherman would stay on dry land... #MorbidMarch

Whitby Jet became THE most integral piece of Victorian mourning jewellery. Following the death of Prince Albert 50 jet workshops swelled to 204... #MorbidMarch 🎨Jules Émile Saintin

Tattoos all had symbolic meanings. The swallow represented how many miles the sailor had travelled and, if they drowned, would also fly their soul to heaven. The anchor represented stability, strength and safety... 📸Todd Walker #MorbidMarch

The fantastic legend of The Lady Lovibond is the tale of a ghost ship which reappears every 50 years off the coast of Kent. The ship was said to have been deliberately steered off course by the first mate who was in love with the captain's wife... 🎨Alfred Kubin #MorbidMarch

'Who knew humans could be so colourful inside? Especially one as dull as Rob had been, when he was alive.' First line of Phengaris, my novella :) #MorbidMarch

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Inveterate practical joker Charles Vance Millar had weird clauses in his will including leaving a house to three men who hated each other as long as they lived together; and a fortune to the Toronto woman who gave birth to the most children in 10 years - known as The Great Stork Derby! #MorbidMarch

Would you like to read your own obituary? PT Barnum did. On his death bed and in a final act of showmanship, he persuaded The Evening Sun in New York to publish his obituary whilst he was still alive. The paper did acknowledge this fact though! #MorbidMarch

I had to research shifting burial/cremation practices across Bronze Age Britain recently for a novel in the final stages of drafting. Quite fascinating. #MorbidMarch

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In Jamaican folklore when a child lost one of their teeth, the rolling calf would come rattling chains to take the tooth AND the child away! But the clever child would put their tooth into a tin can and shake it. The noise would keep the rolling calf away... #MorbidMarch 🎨Picasso