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SOCKS APPEAL

Comedian Bobby Davro’s old sock turned into stone for bizarre museum exhibit

MUSEUM chiefs hope to pull in the punters with their new exhibit — one of Bobby Davro’s old socks.

He handed it over to be turned into stone, joining similar donations from TV presenters Jake Humphrey and John Craven.

Bobby Davro’s old socks are being displayed in a bid to pull in the punters  at Mother Shipton’s Cave museum in Knaresborough
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Bobby Davro’s old socks are being displayed in a bid to pull in the punters at Mother Shipton’s Cave museum in Knaresborough
The museum hangs exhibits in the mineral-rich waters of its Petrifying Well to create stalactite-like displays
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The museum hangs exhibits in the mineral-rich waters of its Petrifying Well to create stalactite-like displays

A petrified hat once worn by movie legend John Wayne is also on display along with a woollen glove belonging to model Jodie Kidd.

Staff at Mother Shipton’s Cave museum in Knaresborough, North Yorks, hang them in the mineral-rich waters of its Petrifying Well to create stalactites-like displays.

Comedian Davro, 61, ­cottoned on to the idea during a visit.

A source said: “We asked if he could leave something to petrify and he promptly took off his white towelling sock.”

The petrified hat once worn by movie legend John Wayne is also on display
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The petrified hat once worn by movie legend John Wayne is also on display
Evidence from crime writer Agatha Christie forms part of the museum's collection — her faithful handbag has been petrified
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Evidence from crime writer Agatha Christie forms part of the museum's collection — her faithful handbag has been petrified

Jay Stelling, who works as a storyteller at Mother Shipton, said: “Compared to a stalactite or stalagmite, the items petrify very quickly.

"A small teddy bear takes three to five months, while larger porous items can take six to 12 months.

“It can take two years to get a good half-inch crust on non-porous items.”

Other exhibits at the cave, which has reopened after lockdown, include stiletto shoes worn by actress Sarah Lancashire as Raquel in Coronation Street, an Ewok costume donated by actor Warwick Davis and Agatha Christie’s handbag.

The most valuable item is a shoe left by Queen Mary in 1923.

Visitor's can admire an Ewok costume donated by actor Warwick Davis
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Visitor's can admire an Ewok costume donated by actor Warwick Davis
The most valuable item is a shoe left by Queen Mary in 1923
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The most valuable item is a shoe left by Queen Mary in 1923
Freddie Starr's friend Bobby Davro reveals he was one of the last people to speak to the comedy legend before he died

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