The Thornton Heath Case: London’s Most Bewildering Poltergeist Haunting



The Thornton Heath haunting, a chilling series of poltergeist events unfolding in South London has left a lasting mark on ghost lore, with two distinct waves of activity reported in the 1930s and 1970s. These deeply unsettling occurrences blurred the line between supernatural intrigue and psychological mystery.

The 1938 Poltergeist Surge: Alma Fielding’s Ordeal

In February 1938, Alma Fielding a 34-year-old housewife in Thornton Heath became the center of a frightening poltergeist case that captivated the nation. As Alma lay bedridden, household chaos erupted:

• Dishes floated and shattered.
• Coal lumps and saucers flew through the air.
• Mirrors bore mysterious handprints.
• Furniture violently shook, leaving residents terrified.

Nandor Fodor, renowned investigator and head of the International Institute for Psychical Research, documented Alma’s uncanny ability to produce “apports” like live mice, beetles, brooches even items appearing from Victoria & Albert Museum collections . Yet, Fodor grew convinced these phenomena stemmed not from spirits, but from Alma’s own unconscious trauma what he termed “poltergeist psychosis”.

His groundbreaking perspective that paranormal occurrences might be expressions of internal distress drew both acclaim and criticism, reshaping the study of poltergeists and influencing pop culture ghost narratives.

The 1970s Wave: The Forbes Family Terror

Decades later, Thornton Heath again became ground zero for eerie disturbances, this time around 1972–74, involving the Forbes family in a Beverstone Road terrace.

Beginning with a radio inexplicably blasting foreign-language broadcasts, the hauntings quickly escalated:

• Glasses, ornaments, and lamps hurled through the air.
• A shattered ornament struck the husband's forehead; the Christmas tree shook violently.
• Shadowy figures stalked hallways; one family member witnessed a man in old-fashioned dress .

A priest’s blessing failed to quell the supernatural onslaught. A medium later identified the présences as an 18th-century farmer (“Chatterton”) and his wife viewing the family as “trespassers.” The phenomena ended only when the family vacated the property .

Explaining the Unexplained

Investigators and parapsychologists offer two standout interpretations:

Psychic Projection: Echoing Fodor, many suggest the disturbances were psychogenic—centered on stress, psychological trauma, or family dynamics.
Residual or Intelligent Haunting: Others believe spirits may have been attached to the location, projecting violent energy when provoked .

Confusion persists, especially due to overlapping details in press coverage and the tendency to bundle the 1930s and 1970s stories as one.

Why Thornton Heath?

Criminal and tragic Victorian-era history in the area including gallows at Gallows Green and executed highwaymen might have fueled ghostly expectations. Such dark heritage may prime residents for supernatural interpretation.

Final Reflections

The Thornton Heath Case remains a two-fold enigma:

1938: Alma Fielding’s ordeal introduced the world to poltergeist phenomena rooted in psychological distress.

1972–74: The Forbes family endured physical attack-level hauntings, culminating in their forced departure.

These episodes illustrate the tension between paranormal belief and psychological explanation, leaving unanswered: are such hauntings expressions of the spirit world or of human psyche under strain?