The Thornton Heath Poltergeist

In early 1938, a semi-detached house in Thornton Heath, a suburb of London, became the center of intense poltergeist activity. The case was investigated by psychoanalyst and paranormal researcher Nandor Fodor, who proposed a psychological explanation that would influence future understanding of poltergeist phenomena.

The Forbes Family

The affected house was home to Mrs. Alma Forbes (a pseudonym used by Fodor), her husband, and their young son. The activity began in February 1938 and escalated rapidly, driving the family to seek help.

Mrs. Forbes reported objects flying through rooms, furniture moving on its own, glass breaking spontaneously, and cups and ornaments hurling themselves against walls. More disturbingly, she claimed to have been attacked by invisible hands that left marks on her body.

Fodor’s Investigation

Nandor Fodor, working with the International Institute for Psychical Research, conducted a thorough investigation of the case. He witnessed numerous incidents firsthand, including objects moving when no one was near them and the appearance of bite marks on Mrs. Forbes’s body.

Fodor’s approach was unusual for the time. Rather than focusing solely on whether the phenomena were genuine, he explored Mrs. Forbes’s psychological history. Through careful interviews, he uncovered a history of trauma, including abuse and a disturbing childhood experience that she had never fully processed.

Psychological Interpretation

Fodor concluded that Mrs. Forbes was the unconscious agent of the poltergeist activity. He proposed that repressed trauma and psychological disturbance could manifest as apparent psychokinetic phenomena, with the poltergeist representing an externalization of internal conflict.

This interpretation was controversial. Traditional spiritualists objected to the psychological explanation, while skeptics questioned whether genuine phenomena had occurred at all. Fodor maintained that both the phenomena and their psychological origin were real.

The Activity

During the height of the disturbance, the Forbes house was barely habitable. Investigators documented objects moving in sealed rooms, marks appearing on Mrs. Forbes’s body while she was under observation, and sounds for which no source could be found.

The activity centered on Mrs. Forbes. When she was absent from the house, phenomena ceased. When she returned, they resumed. This pattern supported Fodor’s theory that she was the unconscious source.

Resolution

The poltergeist activity gradually diminished as Fodor worked with Mrs. Forbes to address her psychological trauma. By spring 1938, the phenomena had largely ceased, and the family was able to resume normal life.

Fodor published his findings, arguing that poltergeist cases should be understood as symptoms of psychological disturbance rather than as evidence of spirits or demons. His work influenced the development of parapsychology and established the connection between trauma and poltergeist activity that researchers still explore today.

Assessment

The Thornton Heath case is significant for Fodor’s pioneering psychological approach. Whether one accepts his explanation or not, the case demonstrated that poltergeist phenomena could be addressed through psychological intervention, regardless of their ultimate cause.

The phenomena themselves were well-documented by multiple witnesses, including trained investigators. Something occurred in that suburban London house that defied ordinary explanation, whether its source was spiritual, psychological, or some combination that eludes current understanding.