The Cock Lane Ghost
In 1762 knocking sounds in a house in Cock Lane, London, were attributed to the ghost of 'Scratching Fanny' until an inquiry including Samuel Johnson judged it a fraud.
- Region
- London
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Category
- Ghost
- Date
- 1 February 1762
- Continent
- Europe
The report
In January 1762 London newspapers reported scratching and knocking noises around the bed of Elizabeth Parsons, the young daughter of Richard Parsons, who owned a house in Cock Lane near Smithfield. The noises were attributed to the spirit of Fanny Lynes, nicknamed 'Scratching Fanny', who by a knocking code was said to have been poisoned with arsenic by William Kent. Crowds gathered and Parsons charged visitors to speak to the ghost. A committee that included Samuel Johnson held a test séance on 1 February 1762 and concluded the affair was a contrivance, and the girl was reportedly seen hiding a small piece of wood. Parsons and four others were later tried and found guilty of conspiracy, and Parsons was sentenced to two years in prison and the pillory.
Sources and further reading
Location
51.5171, -0.1017
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