Nine Labubu-style toys that have been slowly petrified at Mother Shipton’s Cave in Knaresborough will soon go on sale to raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice.
The toys were suspended from the attraction’s famous Petrifying Well, where mineral-rich water gradually coats objects in a stone-like crust. Over the course of around five months, the Labubu-style figures transformed as the flowing water deposited layers of minerals, creating unique petrified keepsakes.
Visitors have been coming to see the remarkable waters of the Petrifying Well for hundreds of years, watching everyday objects turn to stone as if by magic. The process works most successfully with small, porous items such as teddy bears, which absorb the mineral-rich water as it flows over them. Petrified teddy bears have become iconic souvenirs at Mother Shipton’s Cave and are often in high demand.
In total, ten Labubu-style toys were hung at the well to undergo the petrification process. One of the toys will remain on display in the Cabinets of Petrified Curiosities at Mother Shipton’s Cave for visitors to see, while the remaining nine will be sold to raise funds for Martin House.
The unusual display proved a hit with visiting families, sparking curiosity and questions about how the Petrifying Well works. A video of the Labubu-style toys hanging at the well also gained significant attention online, reaching more than half a million views on TikTok.
“It really got people talking – and got children interested in science and geology,” said Fiona Martin, owner of Mother Shipton’s Cave. “We are delighted that these petrified toys will now be raising funds for a great local charity.”
Martin House provides specialist palliative care and support for children and young people with life-shortening conditions, as well as vital support for their families.
The petrified Labubu-style toys will be sold for £70 each, with UK delivery priced at £4.95. They will be available from the Mother Shipton’s Cave online shop from 9am on Friday 13 March.
For more information about Martin House Children’s Hospice, visit www.martinhouse.org.uk.
To purchase the petrified toys, visit www.mothershipton.co.uk/shop.
