In the quiet, working-class neighborhood of Enfield, North London, a seemingly ordinary council house at 284 Green Street became the setting of one of the most spine-chilling and controversial paranormal mysteries in modern history. Known as the Enfield Poltergeist, this terrifying case gripped the public’s imagination and media attention from 1977 to 1979. At the heart of the mystery was the Hodgson family—most notably the two daughters, Janet and Margaret—who claimed their home was haunted by a mischievous and malevolent spirit.
What makes the Enfield Poltergeist case so compelling isn’t just the bizarre events reported over the course of 18 months. It’s the eyewitness testimonies, the physical evidence, and the fact that this story continues to perplex paranormal experts, skeptics, and curious minds alike. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there’s no denying the Enfield haunting has earned its place as one of the most talked-about and frightening supernatural cases of all time.
It All Began With a Strange Sound
The haunting started on a quiet evening in August 1977, when Peggy Hodgson, a single mother of four, was getting her children ready for bed. Suddenly, furniture began to move on its own. Chairs slid across the floor, drawers opened and closed by themselves, and knocking sounds echoed through the walls. At first, Peggy thought her children were playing tricks. But as the disturbances continued night after night, and even police officers reported witnessing inexplicable movements, it became clear that something far stranger was happening.
Over time, the paranormal activity escalated. Objects flew across rooms without warning. Loud bangs and knocks would erupt from the walls. And most disturbingly, the children—particularly 11-year-old Janet—began to exhibit terrifying behavior. She would go into violent trances, speak in a gruff male voice, and claim that the ghost of a man named Bill Wilkins had taken control of her body. The voice claimed he had died in the house years earlier, and his chilling presence would become the centerpiece of the haunting.
A National Media Sensation
As word of the strange events spread, journalists and paranormal investigators flocked to the Hodgson home. The Daily Mirror published extensive stories about the haunting, and it wasn't long before the house became a media circus. The case caught the attention of Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair, researchers from the Society for Psychical Research. They moved into the house and stayed for months, documenting nearly 2,000 unexplained incidents. Their records included levitations, unexplained noises, cold spots, and disembodied voices.
One of the most unsettling pieces of evidence was the voice of "Bill Wilkins" coming from Janet. Despite her young age, Janet’s voice would morph into an older man’s, speaking about death and describing how he had died in that very house. Audio recordings were made and analyzed, but no clear scientific explanation was found. While skeptics argued that Janet could have been using a trick known as false vocal cord vibration, experts noted how difficult it would be for a child to maintain such a voice for long periods without damaging her vocal cords.
Skepticism and Controversy
Despite the mounting evidence and eyewitness accounts, the Enfield Poltergeist was not without its critics. Skeptics accused the Hodgson children of fabricating events for attention. In some cases, the girls were caught red-handed trying to trick the investigators—like bending spoons or hiding objects. Janet herself admitted years later that she and her siblings had faked a few incidents "to test the investigators." However, she maintained that the majority of the phenomena were very real and very terrifying.
Photographs taken during the haunting showed Janet appearing to levitate off her bed. Skeptics claimed she was simply jumping, and that the photos captured her mid-air. Others argued that the events could be explained through sleepwalking, mass hysteria, or psychological stress. While these explanations seemed logical, they failed to account for the sheer volume of activity witnessed by dozens of credible individuals—neighbors, police officers, reporters, and researchers.
The Paranormal Legacy
Over the decades, the Enfield Poltergeist has cemented itself in the annals of supernatural history. It remains one of the best-documented and most heavily investigated paranormal cases ever recorded. Whether you believe the events were caused by a restless spirit or by human trickery, the story continues to inspire books, documentaries, and films.
In 2016, the haunting gained international fame once again when it was featured in a blockbuster horror film. The dramatization brought the case to a new generation, many of whom found themselves falling down the same rabbit hole of eerie recordings, old photographs, and interview clips. Unlike many ghost stories that fade with time, the Enfield haunting refuses to be forgotten.
A Psychological or Supernatural Phenomenon?
To this day, experts are divided. Some psychologists suggest the haunting could be a result of a phenomenon known as "poltergeist syndrome," where stress and trauma manifest as physical disturbances. Others argue that the events were orchestrated by children craving attention in a broken home. But then there are those who insist there are things science can’t explain—those who point to the voice recordings, the eyewitness testimonies, and the sheer number of incidents that defy logic.
Janet Hodgson, now an adult, still stands by her story. In interviews decades later, she remains consistent and calm, even when recounting the most terrifying moments. According to her, whatever haunted her family wasn’t just a figment of imagination. It was something dark, powerful, and deeply real.
Mystery That Refuses to Die
The Enfield Poltergeist isn't just a ghost story—it’s a mystery that cuts through science, psychology, and belief. It challenges what we think we know about the world and leaves us questioning whether the supernatural could really be more than just stories in the dark.
Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, one thing is certain: the story of 284 Green Street will keep people awake at night for years to come. It’s a tale of fear, family, and the unknown—and in a world where most mysteries eventually find answers, the Enfield Poltergeist remains an unsolved enigma.
If you’re fascinated by the unexplained and drawn to real-life horror stories, this haunting offers a chilling reminder: sometimes, the scariest things aren’t found in fiction—they happen in real life, behind closed doors, when no one’s looking.