Enfield Poltergeist
A famously documented poltergeist case in 1977 London, investigated by the Society for Psychical Research, involving two sisters allegedly tormented by an invisible entity.
OVERVIEW
The Enfield Poltergeist was a series of events from 1977 to 1979 at a house in Enfield, North London, involving sisters Janet and Margaret Hodgson, aged 11 and 13. Over 18 months, they reported furniture moving, knocking sounds, objects being thrown, and a gruff voice that allegedly spoke through Janet. The case was investigated by the Society for Psychical Research (SPR), with investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair documenting the phenomena. The case received extensive media coverage and is one of the most documented poltergeist cases in history. Skeptics argue the children were faking, as some events were caught on film showing visible fabrications.
KNOWN FACTS
SPR investigators Grosse and Playfair documented over 2,000 incidents
BBC and Daily Mirror journalists witnessed some of the phenomena
Audio recordings captured the alleged voice calling itself 'Bill'
Police officers who visited the house reported furniture moving
The case produced thousands of pages of documentation and recordings
CLAIMS
Furniture moved across the room without human intervention
A demonic voice spoke through Janet Hodgson, calling itself 'Bill'
Janet was lifted into the air and thrown around her room
Knocking sounds from walls responded intelligently to questions
Metal spoons bent and objects were thrown across rooms
EVIDENCE FOR
SPR investigators Grosse and Playfair documented over 2,000 incidents
BBC and Daily Mirror journalists witnessed some of the phenomena
Audio recordings captured the alleged voice calling itself 'Bill'
Police officers who visited the house reported furniture moving
The case produced thousands of pages of documentation and recordings
EVIDENCE AGAINST
Some photographs show Janet Hodgson visibly throwing objects and faking effects
The 'disembodied voice' audio was analyzed and determined to be the children's voices altered
Not all phenomena were replicated under controlled conditions
The family was under significant stress, and psychological factors may explain the case
The girls later admitted in interviews to having faked some events
OPEN QUESTIONS
No open questions recorded.
SOURCES
TIMELINE
First incidents reported at the Hodgson home in Enfield
SPR investigators arrive to document the case
Media coverage intensifies; BBC films documentary
Phenomena subside; case closed by SPR
The Conjuring 2 dramatizes the case