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The Enfield Poltergeist is one of the most famous and controversial poltergeist cases in history. Taking place in Enfield, England, between 1977 and 1979, this haunting centered around the Hodgson family, particularly two sisters, Janet (11) and Margaret Hodgson (13). The case gained worldwide attention due to its terrifying events, photographic evidence, and extensive media coverage.

The Disturbances Begin
In August 1977, the Hodgson family, consisting of single mother Peggy Hodgson and her four children, began experiencing bizarre and terrifying phenomena in their modest home at 284 Green Street in Enfield.

At first, the disturbances were small, such as furniture shifting slightly and knocking sounds coming from the walls.
Soon, these escalated into furniture flipping over, drawers opening on their own, and loud banging noises.
Janet and Margaret were the most affected, with Janet frequently at the center of the activity.

The Terrifying Paranormal Activity
As time passed, the haunting intensified with physical attacks and disturbing supernatural manifestations. Witnesses—including journalists, paranormal investigators, and neighbors—reported several terrifying incidents:

Levitation: Janet was allegedly seen floating in mid-air, sometimes being flung across the room. Several photos captured this phenomenon.
Strange Voices: Janet began speaking in a deep, gruff male voice, which identified itself as "Bill Wilkins"—a spirit claiming to have died in the house years before. The voice would sometimes speak for hours at a time.
Objects Moving on Their Own: Heavy furniture slid across rooms, beds shook violently, and household items were thrown around.
Cold Spots & Shadowy Figures: The family and investigators reported feeling sudden cold gusts of air and seeing dark shadowy figures lurking around the house.

The Investigations & Witnesses
The case attracted the attention of paranormal investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair, both members of the Society for Psychical Research (SPR). They spent months investigating and documenting the occurrences.

Grosse and Playfair recorded hours of audio and took numerous photographs, many of which captured strange light anomalies and Janet’s apparent levitations.
The case was also covered by the Daily Mirror, with journalists witnessing events firsthand.
Even police officers were called to the house and one officer, WPC Carolyn Heeps, signed a statement claiming she saw a chair move across the floor without explanation.

The Dark Presence & Psychological Effects
The haunting took a serious toll on Janet:

She was often trapped in violent fits, sometimes claiming an unseen force was controlling her body.
She screamed in agony, saying hands were choking or grabbing her.
In one terrifying moment, a curtain wrapped around Janet’s neck, almost strangling her to death.
The deep voice that spoke through Janet—Bill Wilkins—gave eerie details of his death:
"I died in this house… I went blind, had a hemorrhage, and I fell asleep and died in the chair downstairs."
Later, it was discovered that a real Bill Wilkins had indeed died in the house under similar circumstances, as confirmed by his surviving son.

Theories & Controversy
Despite the overwhelming evidence, the case remains controversial. Some skeptics argue that:

Janet and her sister faked many events, seeking attention.
Some recordings revealed Janet admitted to fabricating some incidents.
The photos of her "levitating" could be explained as her jumping off the bed rather than floating.

However, believers argue that:

Too many credible witnesses, including police, journalists, and researchers, saw events that couldn’t be explained.
The voice phenomenon was deeply unnatural—Janet’s throat was examined, and doctors confirmed it was impossible for a child to speak like that for extended periods.
Even skeptics struggled to explain how furniture moved on its own, why items were thrown with force, and how Janet was seen floating by outsiders.

The Aftermath
The activity began to fade in 1979 after a priest was called in to bless the house.
Janet later admitted she and her siblings sometimes exaggerated events but maintained that most of it was real.
She later said the experience haunted her for life and that she never felt completely free of the entity.
The case inspired books, documentaries, and the film The Conjuring 2 (2016).

The Enfield Poltergeist remains one of the most compelling paranormal cases in history. Whether a genuine haunting or a masterful hoax, the terror experienced by the Hodgson family and the numerous witnesses cannot be easily dismissed. It continues to chill and fascinate people worldwide, leaving the mystery unsolved to this day.