{
  "title": "The Enfield Poltergeist: A Deep Dive into the Hodgson Case",
  "dek": "Examining the intense, prolonged paranormal manifestations at 284 Green Street in London during the late 1970s.",
  "slug": "the-enfield-poltergeist-phenomenon",
  "canonical_url": "https://crimesandmyths.com/case/the-enfield-poltergeist-phenomenon",
  "published_at": "2026-10-05T14:08:07.456Z",
  "updated_date": "2026-11-02T12:37:55.512000",
  "word_count": 741,
  "direct_answer": "The Enfield Poltergeist refers to reported paranormal activity at 284 Green Street, London, between 1977 and 1979. Claims include furniture movement, levitation, and vocalizations involving Janet Hodgson. While investigators like Maurice Grosse documented these extensively, the evidence remains disputed, with critics noting instances of child-led fabrication and proponents highlighting the observed phenomena.",
  "key_facts": [
    {
      "value": "284 Green Street, Enfield, London",
      "label": "Primary Location"
    },
    {
      "value": "1977-1979",
      "label": "Time Period"
    },
    {
      "value": "Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair",
      "label": "Key Investigators"
    },
    {
      "value": "Janet Hodgson",
      "label": "Primary Focal Point"
    },
    {
      "value": "October 1978",
      "label": "End Date of Activity"
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "Was the Enfield Poltergeist debunked?",
      "answer": "There is no consensus. While investigators Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair documented phenomena they could not explain, others suggest the events were staged by the Hodgson children."
    },
    {
      "question": "What kind of evidence did researchers find?",
      "answer": "Researchers documented objects moving, furniture displacements, and unusual vocalizations, though some of this evidence is considered disputed due to reports of child-led fabrication."
    },
    {
      "question": "When did the activity at the house stop?",
      "answer": "Reported poltergeist activity at the residence decreased significantly and ceased in October 1978."
    }
  ],
  "structured_block": {
    "timeline": [
      {
        "date": "August 1977",
        "event": "Police arrive at 284 Green Street and report moving furniture."
      },
      {
        "date": "Autumn 1977",
        "event": "Maurice Grosse and Guy Lyon Playfair begin their investigation."
      },
      {
        "date": "October 1978",
        "event": "Poltergeist activity reportedly ceases after a visit by a Dutch medium."
      }
    ],
    "persons": [
      "Maurice Grosse",
      "Guy Lyon Playfair",
      "Janet Hodgson",
      "Peggy Hodgson"
    ],
    "evidence_status": "Disputed",
    "current_status": "Closed",
    "sources": [
      {
        "title": "This House Is Haunted",
        "url": "https://example.com/playfair",
        "publisher": "Stein and Day",
        "tier": "Primary"
      },
      {
        "title": "The Enfield Poltergeist Case",
        "url": "https://example.com/spr",
        "publisher": "Society for Psychical Research",
        "tier": "Primary"
      }
    ],
    "reviewer": {
      "completeness": 95,
      "narrative_quality": 90,
      "readability": 95,
      "direct_answer_standalone": true,
      "perspective_counterpoints": true,
      "honesty_framing": true,
      "verdict": "pass",
      "reasons": "The article is well-structured, maintains a neutral stance, and accurately reflects the provided source material and claims."
    }
  },
  "entities": [
    {
      "name": "Maurice Grosse",
      "description": "A British inventor and member of the Society for Psychical Research who investigated the case.",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_Grosse"
    },
    {
      "name": "Guy Lyon Playfair",
      "description": "An author and researcher who co-investigated the Enfield poltergeist occurrences.",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Lyon_Playfair"
    },
    {
      "name": "Janet Hodgson",
      "description": "A central figure in the Enfield case who experienced multiple reported manifestations.",
      "type": "Person",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Hodgson"
    },
    {
      "name": "Society for Psychical Research",
      "description": "A scientific organization dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena.",
      "type": "Organization",
      "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Psychical_Research"
    }
  ],
  "place": {
    "name": "284 Green Street",
    "address": "284 Green Street, Enfield, London, England",
    "sameAs": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enfield_poltergeist"
  },
  "temporal_coverage": {
    "start": "",
    "end": ""
  },
  "claims": [
    {
      "claim_text": "Guy Lyon Playfair and Maurice Grosse began their investigation into the Enfield poltergeist case in autumn 1977.",
      "category": "timeline",
      "agreement_status": "explained",
      "confidence": 1,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Researchers attempted to verify voice phenomena by monitoring Janet Hodgson while her mouth was obstructed.",
      "category": "evidence",
      "agreement_status": "explained",
      "confidence": 0.9,
      "is_quotable": false,
      "quote_text": "",
      "quote_attribution": ""
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Poltergeist activity at the Hodgson residence in Enfield ceased in October 1978 following a visit by a Dutch medium.",
      "category": "outcome",
      "agreement_status": "explained",
      "confidence": 0.9,
      "is_quotable": true,
      "quote_text": "it’s gone",
      "quote_attribution": "Unnamed Dutch medium"
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Maurice Grosse acknowledged that a small percentage of the observed phenomena were likely fabricated.",
      "category": "other",
      "agreement_status": "explained",
      "confidence": 0.8,
      "is_quotable": true,
      "quote_text": "Grosse believed passionately in the veracity of the phenomena that he witnessed at Enfield",
      "quote_attribution": "Melvyn Willin"
    },
    {
      "claim_text": "Reported phenomena included objects flying, furniture moving, and the physical displacement of Janet Hodgson.",
      "category": "evidence",
      "agreement_status": "explained",
      "confidence": 1,
      "is_quotable": true,
      "quote_text": "The heavy green sofa rose about four feet in the air, flipped over backwards and crashed upside down on the floor",
      "quote_attribution": "Maurice Grosse"
    }
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "url": "https://enfieldindependent.co.uk/news/12913089.they-were-terrified-the-man-who-saw-the-enfield-poltergeist-petrify-an-entire-family",
      "title": "\"They were terrified\": The man who saw the Enfield poltergeist petrify an entire family | Enfield Independent",
      "publisher": "Enfield Independent",
      "tier": "secondary",
      "type": "news_article"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://spr.ac.uk/book-review/enfield-poltergeist-tapes-one-most-disturbing-cases-history-what-really-happened-melvyn",
      "title": "The Enfield Poltergeist Tapes: One of the most disturbing ...",
      "publisher": "Society for Psychical Research",
      "tier": "tertiary",
      "type": "other"
    }
  ]
}