The Case of The Cottingley Fairies

By Crusader1307

  No other Case of the Paranormal captured World attention at the turn of the 20th Century than The Cottingley Faries. The Case is yet another which garners feelings of "believe it or not" (with little grey area in-between). The Case was popular at a time when Paranormal topics were extremely popular throughout The World. Seances and Ghost Photography (mostly faked), were big business. In fact, Escape Artist and Master Magician Eric Weiss (aka Houdini), had spent much money and time debunking most cases with a very high success rate.

The small Village of Cottingley is located near Bradford, England. The Griffith Family were somewhat "well off" (which helped in establishing an early lack of motive regarding the Case). The Griffiths had two daughters, Frances and Elsie (16 & 9 yrs of age). The girls spent much of their summer playing at The Beck (or Ford), nestled in the thick woods. The girls began to relate to their parents that they had playmates down at The Beck. They described "tiny people with wings" who "fluttered like butterflies". They did not speak, but "they" seemed to understand the girls. Incredulous, Mr. Griffith was somewhat worried that his respectable daughters would get a reputation for being slightly "off". The girls (sensing their Fathers disbelief, asked to borrow his new camera - a quarter plate Miged).

The next day the girls returned to The Beck and took 5 photos. Taking them to their Father, they developed into a case that lasted nearly 70 years. The photos clearly showed small humanoid beings, ranging from 4 to 6-inches tall. Wearing Period clothing, the "Faries" all have resplendent wings! Asked if the girls were pulling a prank, they steadfastly denied any trickery. Soon the Story reached famed Writer and well known Paranormal investigator, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A staunch debunker, he had the photos, camera and plates thoroughly examined. Some experts cried hoax, others not. One thing was sure. No one was sure "how" the girls did it.

As the girls grew up, so did their "abilities" to see or summon The Faries. This wad explained away as "losing" their childhood innocence (the purity which apparently attracts Faries). Although they said they could "feel" them, after 1920 - The Fairies failed to appear again. Elsie died in 1986 and Frances in 1988. Before her death in an interview, Frances claimed that they had faked the photos. She said that the images were cut out from a popular book on Faries.

Unfortunately, Frances confession does gave flaws. A comparison of the book in question shows "drawn" illustrations and NOT photos. The detail of The Faries is TOO detailed. Another fact is the shadowing of these "Beings" is in keeping with actual "living" Subjects. The original prints, camera and plates are currently in possession of The National Media Museum, in Bradford. All attempts to prove them hoaxed, have proven inconclusive.