July 6, 2026

Episode 81: The Cock Lane Ghost

In 1762 London, a scratching sound in the walls of a Smithfield house drew crowds of thousands and launched one of the most famous ghost investigations in history. Mary Ann Poll tells the story of Fanny Kent, whose death may have been murder, and the ghost that accused the man she once loved.EPISODE NOTES● Chosen deliberately to vary the episode rhythm: a pre-modern case with a very different resolution than most haunting stories.● The Cock Lane Ghost case involved some of the most prominent figures in 18th-century London, including Samuel Johnson, who participated in the investigation.● Explores the tension between mass public belief and official skepticism, a theme as relevant today as in 1762.SOURCES● Contemporary 1762 London pamphlets and newspaper accounts● Samuel Johnson's account of the investigation committee● Historical records of William Kent and Elizabeth (Fanny) Lynes● Douglas Grant, The Cock Lane Ghost (1965)

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