The Maidstone Poltergeist

In the autumn of 1897, a house in Maidstone, the county town of Kent, became the scene of violent poltergeist activity. The case attracted attention from psychical researchers and was documented in the records of the Society for Psychical Research.

The Town

Maidstone in 1897 was a prosperous market town, the administrative center of Kent. The affected house was a respectable dwelling in a quiet residential area. The family involved was middle-class and had no previous connection to the supernatural.

The Onset

Activity began in September with small objects moving on their own. Books fell from shelves. Ornaments relocated themselves. The family initially suspected practical jokes but could identify no perpetrator.

The Escalation

By October, the activity had become violent. Heavy furniture moved across rooms. Doors slammed with tremendous force. Crockery flew through the air and shattered. The family considered leaving their home.

The Investigation

Members of the Society for Psychical Research visited the house and witnessed some phenomena. They documented their observations carefully but could not explain what they saw. No fraud was detected.

The Focus

As in many poltergeist cases, a young person seemed to be at the center of the activity. The family’s teenage daughter was present for most incidents. When she was sent to stay with relatives, the activity diminished.

The Resolution

The phenomena ceased by November. The family remained in the house, and no further incidents occurred. The daughter returned and experienced no further disturbances. The case remained unexplained.

Assessment

The Maidstone poltergeist case fits the classic pattern of Victorian poltergeist activity: a respectable family, escalating phenomena, a young person at the center, and eventual cessation. It remains one of Kent’s most significant documented cases.