The Enfield Poltergeist

From August 1977 through 1978, the Hodgson family in Enfield, North London, was terrorized by violent poltergeist activity. The case included furniture moving, objects flying, children levitating, and a demonic voice speaking through 11-year-old Janet. Police, journalists, and investigators witnessed the phenomena.

The Family

The Hodgson family:

• Peggy Hodgson (single mother)
• Margaret, 14
• Janet, 11
• Johnny, 10
• Billy, 7

The Beginning

On August 31, 1977:

• Janet and Johnny heard shuffling sounds
• Knocking came from the walls
• A heavy chest of drawers moved by itself
• The terrified family called police

Police Involvement

WPC Carolyn Heeps witnessed:

• A chair sliding across the floor
• She saw no one touch it
• She signed an affidavit to this effect
• Police could offer no explanation

SPR Investigation

The Society for Psychical Research sent:

• Maurice Grosse
• Guy Lyon Playfair

They would investigate for over a year.

Phenomena Observed

Investigators documented:

• Furniture moving and overturning
• Objects flying through the air
• Loud knocking on walls and floors
• Bedclothes being pulled off
• Children being thrown from beds
• Equipment malfunctioning

The Voice

Most disturbing was a voice:

• Spoke through Janet
• Deep, gruff, male-sounding
• Called itself “Bill” (and other names)
• Claimed to be a dead man
• Janet appeared to go into trance

Bill’s Claims

The voice claimed to be Bill Wilkins:

• A man who died in the house
• He died in a chair in the corner
• This was later confirmed as true
• The current residents didn’t know this

Levitation

Perhaps most dramatic:

• Janet allegedly levitated
• Witnesses saw her rise from her bed
• She was reportedly thrown across the room
• Photographs showed her suspended in mid-air

The Famous Photograph

Photos seemed to show:

• Janet suspended above her bed
• Arms and legs extended
• No visible support
• Taken by automatic camera

Media Attention

The case received massive coverage:

• Newspapers ran daily stories
• BBC filmed a documentary
• International interest grew
• The family lived under media siege

Skeptical Views

Critics noted:

• Janet was caught faking phenomena
• Bending spoons and hiding recorders
• She admitted to faking “2%” of events
• Some claimed all was fraud

Defense

Supporters argued:

• Janet admitted faking only minor things
• Major phenomena had multiple witnesses
• Police saw things before media arrived
• Equipment recorded anomalies

Duration

The poltergeist activity:

• Lasted from August 1977 to mid-1978
• Gradually diminished
• Occasionally flared after
• Eventually ceased

Significance

The Enfield Poltergeist is significant for:

• Extended duration (over a year)
• Multiple witnesses including police
• Extensive documentation
• Media coverage
• SPR investigation
• Voice phenomena with verifiable claims

Legacy

The Enfield case remains one of the most controversial poltergeist cases. It inspired films (“The Conjuring 2”) and documentaries. Whether genuine poltergeist activity or clever fraud by disturbed children, it set the template for modern poltergeist investigations.