The Enfield Poltergeist

The Enfield Poltergeist case involved the Hodgson family of Enfield, a borough of London. Over eighteen months, the family experienced phenomena witnessed by police officers, journalists, photographers, and researchers from the Society for Psychical Research.

The Family

Peggy Hodgson was a single mother with four children. The activity centered on her daughters Janet, eleven, and Margaret, thirteen. What began in August 1977 would continue until the family could take no more.

The Beginning

The first night, Peggy heard shuffling sounds and knocking. The children’s beds shook. A chest of drawers moved across the room on its own. When she pushed it back, it moved again. Terrified, she called the neighbors, who heard the knocking too.

The Police

WPC Carolyn Heeps responded to the call and witnessed a chair slide across the floor with no apparent cause. She signed an affidavit to that effect. Her testimony brought the case to media attention and attracted investigators.

The Investigation

Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair of the Society for Psychical Research investigated over the following months. They documented furniture moving, objects flying, fires starting spontaneously, and physical assaults on family members by unseen forces.

Janet’s Voice

Most disturbingly, Janet began speaking in a deep masculine voice claiming to be Bill Wilkins, a man who had died in the house years earlier. Researchers verified that a man by that name had indeed died in the chair Janet identified. The voice spoke through her for hours.

The Controversy

Skeptics noted that most dramatic events occurred when the children could not be observed. Janet later admitted faking some phenomena. However, investigators maintain that while some events may have been fabricated, the core phenomena were genuine.

Assessment

The Enfield case remains controversial precisely because of its mixture of confirmed phenomena, witness credibility, and admitted hoaxing. The genuine events may have been embellished by children enjoying the attention. Separating truth from performance may be impossible.