'Scratching Fanny': What Happens When A Ghost Accuses Someone Of Murder?
Danny Robins and resident experts, Dr Ciaran O’Keefe and Evelyn Hollow, investigate a haunting that rocked Georgian London.
Two dead wives, a man facing the gallows, and a possible ghost that seems hellbent on justice. But is it genuinely paranormal? That’s what Danny, and team intend to find out.
0:00 Coming up: The Cock Lane Poltergeist
1:53 Why investigate this case?
2:39 William Kent and Fanny Lynes
3:24 Richard and Betty Parsons
3:54 Scratching and knocking begins
5:19 Was ‘poltergeist’ a term used in the 1750s?
5:50 Is this a poltergeist case?
6:30 18th century London - Environmental factors to consider
7:34 History of Cock Lane
8:39 Fanny’s death
10:12 Resurgence of activity at 20 Cock Lane
11:21 Séances - Murderer accused
13:09 The ghost that solved their own death in 1897 USA
13:53 William Kent background and witch hunt
15:00 Correlation between young people and supernatural phenomena
15:53 Apparition
17:20 Suspects Rev. John Moore and Richard Parsons
19:33 National news and paying visitors
20:14 Was the haunting a hoax?
26:22 Arrests and trials
27:18 Discovery 100 years later
30:06 Share your Cold Case ideas with Danny
30:33 Next episode: The Sandown Clown
A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4
Credit - Thumbnail photograph of Danny: Willie Runte
Credit - Thumbnail illustration: Ashley Thorpe