Janet Hodgson claimed she was possessed by demonic spirits between 1977 and 1979 while residing at the now-infamous Enfield House on London’s 284 Green Street. Her story as well the house has become a popular cultural phenomenon over the decades.
According to Radio Times, the story is that Janet, then 11, and her sister Margaret Hodgson, who was 13, were possessed. The girls resided in the house with two other siblings and single parent Peggy Hodgson. They claimed heavy furniture moved on its own and that they could hear knocking sounds through the walls. Other witnesses allegedly reported seeing the girl levitating several feet off the ground, among other horrific experiences.
Apple TV+’s latest documentary series, titled The Enfield Poltergeist, further delves into Janet’s claims of demonic possession. Previously, Conjuring 2 looked into the story in 2016. The film also exposed the alleged involvement of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren.
Enfield House’s Janet Hodgson: What happened to her and is she still alive?
The Radio Times report mentioned that Janet Hodgson and her family resided at a rented home, now called the Enfield House, back in the late 1970s. They claimed to have witnessed a series of supernatural activities at their 284 Green Street home for 18 months.
In August 1977, Janet’s single mother, Peggy Hodgson, called the police and reported strange occurrences in their house. Later, a police officer also allegedly witnessed a chair “wobble and slide” at the house but “could not determine the cause of the movement.” Other claims reported were loud noises, children levitating, and disembodied voices.
The outlet stated that over 30 people, including the Hodgson family, their neighbors, paranormal investigators, and journalists, witnessed heavy furniture moving by itself. Some even reported witnessing Janet and her sister Margaret levitating and objects being thrown around the room.
Additionally, people recorded knocking sounds and voices at the time. One such recording from the house is of Janet Hodgson speaking in a naturally high-pitched voice. Following this, the then-eleven-year-old started talking in a gruff voice, seemingly possessed.
According to The Independent, the Hodgson family’s story eventually attracted the Society for Psychical Research’s (SPR) attention. This led investigator Maurice Grosse to visit the house and record several hours of audio of the alleged poltergeist. Writer Guy Lyon Playfair also reportedly believed the supernatural reports at the Enfield House were genuine.
However, others like Anita Gregory and John Beloff of SPR were “unconvinced” of any such presence in the house. They reportedly found evidence that suggested the Hodgson girls likely staged the incidents for media attention.
The same Radio Times report stated that Janet Hodgson and her sister Margaret returned to the Enfield House, now owned by another family, in 2016. Moreover, they participated in the making of Conjuring 2. They also played a crucial part in director Jerry Rothwell’s four-part documentary series The Enfield Poltergeist on Apple TV+.
