In march 2007 channel 4 aired a documentary about the enfield poltergeist titled interview with a poltergeist. Its fame is the result of its comparatively long duration for a poltergeist disturbance, which allowed it to be witnessed and investigated by many different people, including local police. Secondly, there is the issue of what allowedcaused those circumstances to occur. Paranormal investigators ed and lorraine warren, the.
Now the subject of two major movies, the enfield haunting and the conjuring 2. May 01, 2015 a couple of years ago i was asked to appear on itvs this morning to discuss the enfield poltergeist. During the span of three years, a terrifying entity haunted the hodgson family a mother and her four children. The enfield poltergeist refers to dodgy goingson at a house in enfield near london england in the late 1970s where a brood of badlybehaved children managed to convince gullible adults that a poltergeist was responsible for their mischief. She was a member of the society for psychical research and conducted experiments with the british psychic matthew manning. A captivating tale of a frightening poltergeist manifestation that occurred in a northern london suburb. In researching the enfield poltergeist true story, we learned that, like in the conjuring 2 movie available to watch here, the real peggy hodgson was a single mother with four children.
Documented by journalist guy lyon playfair in his book this house is haunted, the bizarre and frightening events that were to unfold in this seemingly normal. During 18 months starting in the summer of 1977, peggy hodgson, her children and over 30. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Jun 21, 2016 the warrens briefly investigated the enfield poltergeist in the summer of 1978 and were just two of the many investigators to visit the hodgsons green street home. As youre aware, playfair was a member of the society for psychical research, and its possible that he had something to gain by claiming the story to be true. May 04, 2015 what is the truth about the enfield poltergeist. Do not buy this book if you want to read a biased account of the famous enfield poltergeist case from 1977 through to 1978.
The enfield haunting is one of the most extensively covered tales of paranormal activity ever and was the. The case was described in the 1983 book the devil in connecticut by gerald brittle. The enfield poltergeist the true story of the enfield haunting and the conjuring 2. Very interesting read if you are interested in the enfield poltergeist case. The true story of the enfield poltergeist by guy playfair. An investigation of the enfield poltergeist is the main source of information about the. There are many other choices you could make which will either try to convince you of the genuineness of the phenomena produced or its fraudulent origins according to the interpretation of the authors concerned. Compared to what was to come, the initial phenomena were. Veteran paranormal researcher john frasers latest book poltergeist. The conjuring 2 vs the true story of the enfield poltergeist. The setting of the story is in london in a town called enfield back in 1977. The enfield poltergeist bbc the true story full documentary. This book was very informative and gives the story of the enfield poltergeist in much more detail than any other account i have seen on television or in print. Psychical investigator renee haynes raised doubts at the.
We rarely get a chance to hear for ourselves the evidence of a ghostly presence. It was widely promoted by book peddling psychic investigators and the british tabloid press. The warrens briefly investigated the enfield poltergeist in the summer of 1978 and were just two of the many investigators to visit the hodgsons green street home. It is one of the rare books to which one can truthfully apply the hackneyed claim that within its designated area it is essential reading. In 1986, ed and lorraine warren arrived and proclaimed the snedeker house, a former funeral home, to be infested with demons. The enfield poltergeist was a period of apparent poltergeist activity in london, england between august 1977 and september 1978, with an added outburst in august 1980. Guide to the enfield haunting poltergeist, janet, warrens. The enfield poltergeist september, 2018 guy lyon playfair one of the two lead researchers at enfield during the poltergeist outbreak was not only known for his contribution to the enfield poltergeist but, was a writer on the paranormal. Guy lyon playfair, one of the cases two lead investigators and author of this house is haunted. The enfield poltergeist was widely covered in newspapers, books, radio and tv at the time and continues to fascinate. What they would discover would become one of the most famous poltergeist. The incidents were investigated at the house by spr members maurice grosse and guy lyon playfair over a period of months. On terms of this adaption, it is a fairly decent one.
It has been the subject of worldwide press coverage and several radio and television documentaries. New series the enfield haunting begins on sunday nights and is. Melvyn willin is the honorary archive officer at the society of psychical research in london, as well as being a paramusicologist and psychical researcher. The truth of the story is an interesting one, where even the police were puzzled by the strange occurrences taking place. Inspired by the worlds most documented poltergeist incident, the enfield haunting adapted from guy lyon playfairs book this house is haunted is a c. In 1998, living spirit pictures produced a film called urban ghost storystarring jason conneryand james cosmo which is loosely based on the events of the enfield poltergeist. The legacy of the enfield poltergeist polterwotsit has been rather a dead letter for a couple if years now. Enfield poltergeist 44 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the worlds most famous reallife ghost stories, we reopened the enfield poltergeist case files and reexamining the best documented poltergeist haunting of all time. It is a small, but certainly an interesting, book 180 pages including appendixes, a suggested reading list, and an index. Investigators from around the world came to check out the hodgsons claims, and many thought the enfield poltergeist was a hoax. After all, the media relies on public interest to sustain a story.
It is my greatest wish that victims of paranormal attack are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve, and that by writing this book, it will encourage others to come forward and share their stories also. This is the amazing story of the enfield poltergeist on august 31st 1977, normal life ended for mrs harper and. Whether you believe the enfield poltergeist was evidence of a real haunting or not, theres no doubt that the story had an enormous impact at the time. Milbourne christopher was the most outspoken of these skeptics. Apr 12, 2018 the independent reports of strange goings on blew the story into a national sensation, and the enfield poltergeist has since been dramatised in tv series such as the enfield haunting and films. Most articles about the enfield poltergeist case dont even mention the warrens, leading one to conclude that their role in the case was significantly dramatized for the. Inspired by the worlds most documented poltergeist incident, the enfield haunting adapted from guy lyon playfairs book this house is haunted is a. The enfield poltergeist the name given to the story of the paranormal phenomena that occurred at an entirely normal council house in enfield, north london, is one of britains most beloved and wellknown ghost stories.
In the town of enfield england, almost 40 years ago, supernatural events would start. The movies were tied together by the main characters, the truelife. In 20, hollywood came abuzz with the conjuring, a movie telling the supposedlytrue story of a poltergeist the terrorized a rhode island family in the early 1970s. An investigation of the enfield poltergeist is the main source of information about the events. Enfield poltergeist channel 4 documentary 2007 youtube.
In this book, fraser examines past and present research into poltergeist phenomena, looking at the evidence so far and whether the phenomena can really be proven. Enfield poltergeist timeline of paranormal occurances higgypop. The enfield poltergeist that inspired the conjuring 2. The activity occurred at enfield in north london, at 284 green street, a council house rented to peggy hodgson, a single parent with four children. The enfield poltergeist was a period of apparent poltergeist activity in enfield, england between august 1977 and september 1978, with an added outburst of poltergeist activity in august 1980. Peggy hodgson, a resident of enfield, england, called the police in 1977, after her children reported seeing furniture in their home moving around and hearing sounds in the walls. The enfield poltergeist, enfield, london, united kingdom. The true story of the enfield poltergeist, was heavily preoccupied with the subject of trying to sell the idea of a dramatic adaptation of his book. We are proud to share the release of his new book entitled the enfield poltergeist tapes.
Gregory was a lecturer at the polytechnic of north london. This is the amazing story of the enfield poltergeist on august 31st 1977, normal life ended for mrs harper and her four children in their modest council house in a hitherto quiet corner of the north london suburb of enfield. The events took place at the home of the hodgson family in green street, enfield, north london, in 197779, and became the subject of guy lyon playfairs 1980 book this house is haunted a third. Many believe that the haunting was a legitimate manifestation of a spirit of the deceased. The true story of the enfield poltergeist 3rd edition by playfair, guy lyon isbn. What becomes known as the enfield poltergeist wrecks havoc on this family to the point that they have maurice grosse along with a friend guy lyon playfair the author of this book from the society of physical research come in to investigate the haunting. The enfield poltergeist was a claim of supernatural activity at 284 green street, a council house in brimsdown, enfield, london, england, between 1977 and 1979 involving two sisters, aged 11 and.
Sky living tv showed the first of three parts of its serial the enfield haunting on may 3rd. It was her death which prompted maurice grosse to pursue investigation of the paranormal. Nov 21, 2019 the enfield poltergeist is one of the most famous cases in psychical research, but also one of the most contentious. It is a small, but certainly an interesting, book 180 pages including appendixes, a. Additionally, since the time of the enfield haunting, the hodgsons stories detailing the events have changed considerably. What really happened with the enfield poltergeist back in the 1970s, the nation was stunned when the terrified residents of a suburban semi experienced the full. The enfield poltergeist tapes is dr melvyn willins fifth book. The enfield poltergeist has been featured in episodes of itv series strange but true. The story of the enfield poltergeist is already regarded as a classic in the annals of psychical research.
Jun 20, 2016 but even with all of this, there were those who felt that the enfield poltergeist was being made up by janet and her older sister margret. The case was featured in the 1992 book in a dark place. But this is the most reliable account we have of the events of 1977. The case in reference is in fact the true story of peggy hodgson and her children, who, between 19771979, claimed to be terrorized by poltergeist activity in their home on green street in the north london suburb of enfield. Paranormal investigators ed and lorraine warren, the enfield. In his book, melvyn has transcribed all of the several hundred audio tapes that were recorded by maurice grosse and guy lyon playfair throughout the case.
As mentioned, the hodgson family received a lot of press during the reported presence of the enfield poltergeist. Bbc radio 4 the reunion what its like to meet a poltergeist. The enfield poltergeist the name given to the story of the paranormal phenomena that occurred at an entirely normal council house in enfield, north london, is one of. What really happened in the enfield poltergeist case. The enfield poltergeist is, in fact, a story within a story. Grosse was soon joined by author and paranormal investigator guy lyon playfair, whose 1980 book this house is haunted. Lyon playfair, whose 1980 book this house is haunted. It has been hypothesized that poltergeist activity is triggered by puberty, especially around girls. The enfield poltergeist the true story of the enfield. The true story of a poltergeist 1980 that an entity. The conjuring 2, about another alleged poltergeist case, this one a very famous case from england called the enfield poltergeist. I have read quite a few true haunting books and this one rates up there with.
The year before the enfield poltergeist manifested itself, grosse had lost his own daughter, also named janet. The enfield poltergeist case is one of the most famous and unusual hauntings on record. Amazing story of 11yearold london girl who levitated above her bed by zoe brennan for the daily mail. This book doesnt argue in favour or against the legitimacy of this famous case but presents the case by transcribing some of the tape recordings made by lead investigator maurice. The hauntings occurred at the hodgson family home in enfield, which is a borough of london, england in 1977. In 1992 the bbc aired a mockumentary titled ghostwatch written by stephen volk and based on the enfield poltergeist.
In the town of enfield england, almost 40 years ago, supernatural events would start a chain of events that would being. In the town of enfield england, almost 40 years ago, supernatural events would start a chain of events that would being the world famous paranormal investigators ed and lorraine warren in to investigate. Although playfair maintained the haunting was genuine and wrote in his later book this house is haunted. It is a small, but certainly an interesting, book 180 pages including appendixes. Apr 10, 2017 the enfield poltergeist bbc the true story full documentary vintage throwback classics. The true story the enfield poltergeist the witcherie. The circumstances thereof and how the events unfolded. But even with all of this, there were those who felt that the enfield poltergeist was being made up by janet and her older sister margret. I would recommend this book to anybody with an interest in the paranormal. The activity occurred at enfield in north london, at 284 green street, a council house rented to.
The enfield haunting is based off a true paranormal case which took place in brimstone, england in the 1970s. Oct 09, 20 the most documented poltergeist case from the uk, with so many credible witnesses from police officers to the national press. Much has been written about the classic poltergeist case which began in 1977 and became known as the enfield poltergeist. Apr 24, 2019 the enfield poltergeist plagued a family in the london suburb of enfield in the late 1970s, with the center of activity focused on janet, the youngest daughter. In 1980, guy lyon playfair published a book about the enfield poltergeist, titled this house is haunted. This study by dr willin fulfils this need admirably. What they would discover would become one of the most famous poltergeist hauntings of all. What happened at 284 green street in enfield in 1978 as depicted in sky livings chilling threeparter the enfield haunting starring timothy spall and matthew macfadyen. Margaret aged 12, janet aged 11, johnny aged 10 and billy aged 7.
Enfield poltergeist haunting altered dimensions paranormal. Becky has completed her phd, my ghost group gsuk has not met, and parasoc has quietly disbanded. What becomes known as the enfield poltergeist wrecks havoc on this family to the point that they have i have read quite a few true haunting books and this one rates up there with the best of them. May 25, 2019 do not buy this book if you want to read a biased account of the famous enfield poltergeist case from 1977 through to 1978. Jan 11, 2020 some consider the enfield poltergeist case to be the most witnessed and valid case of paranormal hauntings of all time, while others believe it to be one of the biggest hoaxes. President of the society of american magicians, christopher visited the hodgson family.
269 1407 89 531 1181 1269 230 934 405 1026 1174 531 1322 331 176 1263 1544 1464 1016 1138 889 391 569 689 1158 54 1276 980 1461 35 567 633 541 1415 1287