The Cottingley Fairies

The Cottingley Fairies: A Photographic Enigma

In the early 20th century, a seemingly innocent photograph would cast an eternal shadow over photography, folklore, and the very nature of reality itself. In December 1917, two British girls—Ethel Marion Wells Brabazon (then aged 16) and her younger cousin Frances Griffiths (aged 9)—took what were to become some of the most controversial photographs in history: the so-called Cottingley Fairies.

The History and Background

The Cottingley Fairies are a case study in the intersection of childhood imagination and adult skepticism. Ethel and Frances lived in the Yorkshire village of Cottingley, near Bradford. Their mother was Mary Anne (née Smith), a spiritualist who often held seances at their home. The girls were part of a family deeply involved in Spiritualism—a belief system that holds the spirits of the dead can communicate with the living.

In 1917, the world was embroiled in World War I, and Ethel and Frances were captivated by Arthur Conan Doyle’s book The Coming of the Fairies, published earlier that year. The book detailed photographs of fairies, which Conan Doyle argued proved that such creatures existed. It was a time when belief in supernatural phenomena still had a foothold in many communities.

Key Events or Sights

On May 15, 1917, Ethel took the first photograph, titled “Fairy and Child.” Frances claimed to have seen fairies dancing near their home and decided to take another picture. On July 28, she produced a second image, which would become the more famous of the two: “The Elfin Knight,” showing what appeared to be a small male figure in a tattered cloak.

These photographs were taken with an 11×14 inch camera on Kodak No. 2 plate film. The girls created them by placing paper cutouts of fairies and other figures into their garden, then posing behind them to take the pictures. They believed they had captured real evidence of a spiritual existence.

Witness Accounts or Evidence

The story remained dormant for years until December 1920, when Frances Griffiths showed the photographs to her friend Elsie Wright’s mother, who recognized them as frauds and confiscated the negative. However, she returned the negatives after an argument with Frances’ mother, allowing Ethel and Frances to continue their charade.

In 1923, Margaret Holloway, a keen amateur photographer, visited the girls at their home. She was intrigued by the photographs and asked them if they had any more. When they produced “The Elfin Knight,” she suggested they take another with both fairies present. This resulted in the photograph known as “Two Fairies Dancing” (July 1923).

Investigations or Research

In 1924, Constance Warrington, a professional photographer and friend of Ethel’s mother, took an interest in the girls’ photographs. She conducted a series of tests to prove their authenticity. She attempted to replicate the images but failed, leading her to believe they were genuine.

The turning point came when Charles Fort, a well-known writer on anomalous phenomena, learned about the photographs and wrote about them in his 1931 book Lo!. This brought widespread attention to the case and sparked renewed interest among paranormal enthusiasts.

The Current Status / Ongoing Mystery

In 1985, British photographer Elsie Wright (Frances Griffiths) died at the age of 74. Her daughter Moira Hughes, convinced that her mother’s story was true, donated the original negatives to the Science Museum in London. In 2001, the museum conducted a detailed analysis using X-rays and infrared light to confirm that the figures were indeed hand-cut paper cutouts placed behind the girls.

However, the mystery remains unresolved for many. Skeptics point out that the photographs can be explained by the girls’ deliberate manipulation of their surroundings, while believers argue that they represent authentic manifestations of spiritual entities.

Frequently Asked Questions (5 Q&A pairs)

Q: Were the Cottingley Fairies actually fairies?

A: The evidence strongly suggests that the photographs were created using paper cutouts. Ethel and Frances likely used their imagination to place these figures in their garden, believing they had captured real spiritual phenomena.

Q: Why did it take so long for the truth to come out about the Cottingley Fairies?

A: The girls were initially convinced that their photographs showed genuine fairy creatures, which made them reluctant to reveal the truth. Additionally, the popularity and mystery surrounding the images kept them in public consciousness for decades.

Q: How did Arthur Conan Doyle become involved with the case of the Cottingley Fairies?

A: In 1920, Frances Griffiths showed her photographs to a friend who passed them on to a spiritualist group. One member brought the photos to Arthur Conan Doyle’s attention, and he was immediately convinced that they depicted real fairies.

Q: What impact did the Cottingley Fairies have on the paranormal community?

A: The case remains one of the most famous examples of alleged supernatural phenomena in modern history. It influenced countless others to believe in similar sightings and continues to be referenced in books, films, and documentaries about the supernatural.

Q: Are there any other notable cases that are often compared to the Cottingley Fairies?

A: Yes, cases such as the Brown University UFO incident (1967) and the Hill of Tara fairies (Ireland, 1980s) have been compared to the Cottingley Fairies due to their mysterious nature and the controversy surrounding them.