Enfield Poltergeist: Real Story & Case Study That Shook the UK

In the late summer of 1977, an otherwise ordinary council house in Enfield, North London, became the epicenter of what would become the most widely documented poltergeist case in British history. The family at the heart of the disturbance was Peggy Hodgson, a single mother raising four children: Margaret (13), Janet (11), Johnny (10), and Billy (7). What began as unexplained knocking and furniture shifting rapidly evolved into a terrifying series of events that drew in the police, media, and global paranormal investigators.

Overview of the Haunting

Location: 284 Green Street, Enfield, North London
Period: August 1977 – October 1978
Family: Peggy Hodgson (single mum) and her four children, including Janet (11) and Margaret (13)
Key Events:

• Furniture sliding, chairs toppling without explanation
• Loud knocks on walls witnessed even by police WPC Carolyn Heeps
• Apparent levitation: iconic photo of Janet mid-air
• Voice phenomena of “Bill Wilkins” speaking through Janet

The First Night: August 30, 1977

Peggy Hodgson called the police after witnessing a chest of drawers move on its own, only to find it impossible to push it back. Daughters Janet and Margaret had already reported hearing shuffling noises, bangs, and disembodied voices. Over the coming days, the activity escalated with beds shaking, objects flying, and unseen forces slapping the children.

Police Witnesses Involved

One of the most compelling early validations came when WPC Carolyn Heeps entered the home and witnessed a chair wobble and slide several feet across the floor—without any visible cause. She signed an official statement to that effect, giving the story instant credibility in the eyes of the press.

The Voice of “Bill Wilkins”

Perhaps the most chilling aspect of the case involved Janet Hodgson, who appeared to channel a voice identifying itself as “Bill Wilkins”, a man who allegedly died in the house years earlier. Speaking in a harsh, guttural tone that lasted for hours and damaged her vocal cords, Janet revealed disturbing details about Bill’s death that were later verified independently by the BBC and local records.

Phenomena Witnessed and Documented

• Levitation: Janet was repeatedly seen by family and photographers floating mid-air in a horizontal position.
• Apparitions: Witnesses described shadowy figures and flashes of light.
• Knocking & Scratching: Continuous, rhythmic tapping occurred inside walls and ceilings, captured on tape.
• Furniture Movement: Chairs, drawers, and beds moved, tilted, or flipped over without human contact.
• Cold Spots: Dramatic, sudden temperature drops were reported in the house.
• Malfunctioning Electronics: Cameras and tape recorders inexplicably jammed, overheated, or erased footage.

Duration & Impact

The most intense activity lasted 14 months, but minor disturbances continued into 1979. Though some suspected the girls—especially Janet—of faking parts of the activity, even skeptics admitted dozens of events had no rational explanation. The case remains one of the best documented paranormal events of the 20th century.

Investigation & Evidence

While public fascination grew rapidly, the real weight behind the Enfield case came from its firsthand documentation, eyewitness reports, and the array of investigators—both believers and skeptics—who scrutinized every detail.

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The Primary Investigators

Maurice Grosse & Guy Lyon Playfair (Society for Psychical Research)

• Arrived days after the initial disturbances.
• Lived in the house for extended periods across a year.
• Logged over 2,000 incidents, including:
  • Objects hurling across rooms without being touched.
  • Sudden temperature drops and electrical interference.
  • Janet speaking in the voice of “Bill Wilkins”—even when her mouth was full or sealed.
• Captured hours of audio tapes: knocks, guttural voices, whispered conversations in empty rooms.

Playfair, a BBC journalist-turned-psychic researcher, maintained that while Janet may have faked some moments for attention, many events were unquestionably paranormal.

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Police Documentation

• WPC Carolyn Heeps witnessed a heavy chair slide unaided across the room and noted it in her official police report.
• Other officers reported unnatural sounds, though they couldn’t find the source after extensive checks.

These statements remain part of the only officially documented police witness testimony to paranormal activity in UK history.

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The Voice of Bill Wilkins

• A gravelly, male voice emerged from Janet’s throat, sometimes for hours without rest.
• The voice identified itself as Bill Wilkins, a 72-year-old man who died of a hemorrhage in the living room of the house.
• A BBC Radio caller later confirmed the details matched his own father—adding eerie credibility.

What stuns voice pathologists to this day is that Janet could produce this low-pitched voice from her false vocal cords—a technique rarely mastered even by trained ventriloquists or actors.

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Captured Evidence

Photos

• Janet seen hovering mid-air at unnatural angles.
• Objects (pillows, toys, books) frozen mid-flight in timed exposures.
• Infrared images showing unaccounted-for heat signatures.

Audio

• Repetitive knocks matching call-and-response tests.
• Sudden swearing, shouting, and names uttered with no one present.

Technical Anomalies

• Tape reels frequently wound backward or jammed.
• Camera shutters failed mid-shot, despite fresh batteries.

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The Skeptics Weigh In

Joe Nickell (CSI)

• Claimed the photos showed jumping, not levitation.
• Cited sibling rivalry and media attention as reasons for alleged trickery.

Milbourne Christopher (magician)

• Demonstrated how some of the furniture could have been manipulated by foot or wire.

Janet’s Own Admission (Years Later)

• In a 1980s interview, she admitted that some things were faked, but added, “Only about 2%.”
• She insisted that most events were real and that the press hounded her into exaggerations.

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Psychological Explanations

Some psychologists theorize:

• Janet (age 11) was going through puberty and may have developed dissociative episodes or conversion disorder.
• The family had no father figure (Peggy was recently separated), possibly triggering emotional stress manifesting as poltergeist phenomena.

However, many events happened when Janet was either not in the room or under full supervision, leaving a large number of incidents unexplained by psychology or trickery.

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Exclusive Detail: Suppressed Audio Tape

In 2016, a former BBC radio producer admitted in an interview that there was a missing 22-minute tape from the 1978 recordings—allegedly removed after a “direct contradiction” between what investigators witnessed and what appeared on playback. It remains unreleased.

Little-Known and Exclusive Facts About the Enfield Poltergeist

While the Enfield Poltergeist case is well-documented, there are many lesser-known details that add depth and nuance to the haunting story—facts that rarely appear in mainstream accounts or documentaries.

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The Family’s Hidden Struggles

• The Hodgson children, especially Janet and Margaret, were subjected to severe bullying at school due to the haunting. Janet was nicknamed “ghost girl,” while Margaret was called “witch.” This social ostracism led to psychological stress and referrals to mental health services.
• Peggy Hodgson faced intense media pressure, which contributed to family tensions and eventual separation. Several researchers believe the poltergeist activity may have been exacerbated by emotional stress within the household.

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“Kinetic Energy” Phenomenon

• Photographer Graham Morris, who captured some of the most famous levitation photos, reported experiencing direct physical contact from flying objects. He suggested Janet might have been unconsciously releasing a form of “kinetic energy” responsible for some of the poltergeist effects.
• This theory hints at a link between human psychokinesis and poltergeist manifestations—a topic still debated in parapsychology today.

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The “Bill Wilkins” Connection

• Beyond the voice phenomenon, a local historian discovered that William Wilkins had lived in the Enfield house as a lodger in the 1950s and died there under suspicious circumstances.
• Family members later revealed that Janet could mimic the voice perfectly even without apparent vocal effort, leaving open questions about whether the spirit was real or a psychological imprint.

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Suppressed and Missing Evidence

• An internal memo from the Society for Psychical Research, released years later, mentions the deliberate withholding of certain audio recordings that contained “disturbing material” too controversial to publish.
• Investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair both hinted that some phenomena were so unusual that they defied existing scientific explanation and might never be fully disclosed.

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Aftermath and the House’s Fate

• The original Hodgson family home at 284 Green Street was sold in the 1980s and has since changed hands multiple times. Despite renovations, locals report continued paranormal activity, including strange noises and unexplained lights.
• The house is considered a local landmark for paranormal tourism, though residents generally prefer privacy and discourage sensationalism.

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Rare Photographs and Audio

• Several original, unpublished photographs show objects mid-air and shadows not present in later public releases.
• Audio archives held by private collectors contain rare voice clips and knocking sequences never digitized or shared online.

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The Media’s Role: Fact vs. Fiction

• The case was sensationalized by tabloids, often exaggerating or fabricating stories about the family’s experiences.
• This media frenzy created a blurred line between documented facts and folklore, complicating serious research but increasing public intrigue.

Where the Hodgson Family Is in 2025

Decades after the Enfield Poltergeist case captivated the world, many are curious about the lives of the Hodgson family members—how the experience shaped them, and where they are now.

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Janet Hodgson: The Face of the Enfield Haunting

Janet, the 11-year-old girl at the center of much of the activity, has lived a relatively private life since the events of the late 1970s. Now in her mid-50s, she has spoken sparingly in interviews, acknowledging that some incidents were exaggerated but firmly maintaining the reality of the majority of the phenomena.

• Janet pursued a career outside the paranormal spotlight and currently lives in England.
• She has expressed frustration with the ongoing public fascination, describing it as “a burden” that overshadowed her personal growth.
• Despite this, Janet remains open to the idea that some forces were genuinely supernatural, refusing to label the entire experience a hoax.

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Margaret Hodgson: Janet’s Sister

Margaret, also heavily involved in witnessing and documenting the haunting, stayed close to her family and has occasionally spoken out to support Janet’s accounts.

• She has emphasized the emotional toll the haunting and subsequent media attention had on the family, particularly the social stigma they endured.
• Margaret lives quietly, largely avoiding the public eye, but has contributed to paranormal documentaries and retrospectives as a consultant.

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Peggy Hodgson: The Matriarch

Peggy Hodgson, the single mother who endured the brunt of the poltergeist’s activity, eventually left the family home in the early 1980s.

• Reports suggest she struggled with the media intrusion and the psychological strain of the haunting.
• Peggy passed away in the late 1990s, but her role as the steadfast figure trying to protect her children remains central to the Enfield narrative.

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Johnny and Billy Hodgson

The younger Hodgson boys—Johnny and Billy—have largely stayed out of public discussion.

• They have not been known to speak publicly about the case.
• According to family accounts, they have lived normal lives and reportedly distanced themselves from the paranormal aspect of their childhood.

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Legacy and Ongoing Impact on the Family

• The family has consistently maintained a mixed relationship with the paranormal community, wary of exploitation but appreciative of sincere research.
• In recent years, Janet and Margaret have occasionally participated in interviews and conventions to share their experiences with more controlled, respectful audiences.
• The family has expressed hope that the story serves as a cautionary tale about media sensationalism and the impact it can have on vulnerable families.

Detailed Timeline of the Enfield Poltergeist Events

August 30, 1977

• Initial police call after furniture moves by itself; Janet and Margaret report strange noises and knocking.

September – October 1977

• Police officers witness unexplained phenomena.
• Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair begin investigations.
• Janet begins vocalizing the “Bill Wilkins” voice.

November 1977

• Photographic evidence of levitation taken by Graham Morris.
• Audio tapes capture knocking, voices, and other disturbances.

December 1977 – Early 1978

• Activity peaks with beds moving, objects flying, and shadowy figures seen.
• Public and media attention intensifies.

Mid 1978

• Activity begins to wane but minor events continue.
• Janet admits to some fabrication under media pressure.

Late 1978 – 1979

• Most phenomena cease.
• Family moves out of the home in early 1980s.

Enfield Poltergeist FAQ

Q: Was the Enfield Poltergeist ever proven to be real?
A: The case remains officially unexplained. While some phenomena were proven hoaxes, many events witnessed by credible investigators and police remain unresolved.

Q: Did the Hodgson children fake the activity?
A: Janet admitted to minor fakery under pressure but insisted most events were genuine and beyond her control.

Q: What caused the poltergeist activity?
A: Theories range from paranormal spirits, psychokinesis triggered by emotional stress, to mass hysteria. No definitive explanation exists.

Q: Is the house still haunted today?
A: Residents and paranormal enthusiasts report ongoing unexplained activity, but it is less intense than during the original events.

Q: Can I visit the Enfield Poltergeist house?
A: The property is privately owned and not open to the public, though it attracts attention from paranormal tourists.