The Enfield Poltergeist

The Enfield poltergeist case, which occurred from 1977 to 1978 in a council house in Enfield, north London, became one of the most famous and controversial paranormal investigations in British history. Centered on the Hodgson family, particularly daughters Janet and Margaret, the case featured phenomena witnessed by police officers, journalists, and investigators.

The Beginning

In August 1977, single mother Peggy Hodgson called police after her children reported furniture moving on its own and knocking sounds coming from the walls. Constable Carolyn Heeps responded and witnessed a chair slide across the floor on its own. She signed an affidavit confirming what she had seen.

The phenomena escalated rapidly. Heavy furniture moved. Objects flew across rooms. Cold spots appeared. The family was terrified.

The Investigation

The Society for Psychical Research sent investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair. They would spend over a year documenting the case, witnessing phenomena firsthand, and interviewing witnesses.

The investigators recorded over 1,500 incidents. These included furniture moving, objects appearing and disappearing, pools of water forming spontaneously, and physical attacks on family members. Neighbors and visitors also witnessed events.

Janet and the Voice

The phenomena centered on eleven-year-old Janet Hodgson. Most dramatically, she began speaking in a deep, masculine voice that claimed to be Bill, an old man who had died in the house. The voice spoke for hours, providing verifiable details about Bill’s life and death.

Skeptics suggested Janet was simply throwing her voice. Investigators had her speak while her mouth was taped and filled with water, yet the voice continued. Medical professionals were unable to explain how a young girl could produce such sounds.

Controversy

The case has been both celebrated and criticized. Janet later admitted to faking some phenomena “because we wanted to see if the investigators would catch us.” She maintained, however, that the genuine events were real and that the faking was a small percentage of what occurred.

Photographs exist showing Janet apparently levitating from her bed, though skeptics suggest she was simply jumping. The photos remain among the most famous images in paranormal research.

Legacy

The Enfield case was adapted into “The Conjuring 2” (2016) and numerous documentaries. It remains one of the most discussed poltergeist cases in history, with debate continuing about which phenomena were genuine and which were fabricated.