The Innocent Fairy Photo Hoax That Made Two Young Girls Famous
Elsie Wright was 16 and her cousin, Frances Griffiths, was 10 in 1917 when the first two photographs of the famous Cottingley Fairies were taken with a borrowed camera in Yorkshire. The girls truly believed in the existence of fairies and decided to show their skeptics photographic evidence as proof that they indeed spent time in the company of their tiny winged friends.
There were a total of five photographs in the series. When the first two photographs were developed by Elsie's father he assumed the photos were fake. Elsie's mother believed the photos were genuine.
How the Fairy Photographs Gained Public Interest
In 1920 the photos then became of interest to Theosophist, Edward Gardner who believed the fairy pictures were authentic.
In 1922 a letter that Frances wrote to her friend Johanna Parvin, dated November 9, 1918, was discovered and published in an article called "Cape Town Link In World Controversy".
"Dear Joe [Johanna], I hope you are quite well. I wrote a letter before, only I lost it or it got mislaid. Do you play with Elsie and Nora Biddles? I am learning French, Geometry, Cookery and Algebra at school now. Dad came home from France the other week after being there ten months, and we all think the war will be over in a few days. We are going to get our flags to hang upstairs in our bedroom. I am sending two photos, both of me, one of me in a bathing costume in our back yard, Uncle Arthur took that, while the other is me with some fairies up the beck, Elsie took that one. Rosebud is as fat as ever and I have made her some new clothes. How are Teddy and dolly? Elsie and I are very friendly with the beck Fairies." On the back of the photograph Frances wrote "It is funny I never used to see them in Africa. It must be too hot for them there."
The letter was considered evidence because Frances wrote about the fairies in her letter as if they were real and just a part of her everyday life.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Believed the Photographs to Be Genuine
The first two photographs were printed in the Strand magazine and Conan Doyle scheduled a tour about Spiritualism in Australia.
The photographs were causing a lot of controversy and the girls had their critics, but there were also those who wanted to believe the photos were real. Conan Doyle was among those who believed the photographs were genuine. He published a second article when the girls took 3 new photographs of the fairies and made the girls famous. He published The Coming of the Fairies in 1922 which told the story of the Cottingley Fairy photographs and the existence of the spirit world.
On the last expedition to Cottingley in 1921 a clairvoyant named Geoffrey Hodson was asked to verify the genuineness of the girls' story.
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Geoffrey Hodson books on clairvoyance
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Geoffrey Hodson (12 March 1886 in Lincolnshire, England - 23 January 1983 in Auckland, New Zealand) was a occultist, Theosophist, mystic, philosopher and esotericist, and a leading light for over 70 years in the Theosophical Society. He was educated...
In his book 'Fairies at Work and Play' Hodson stated that he was convinced that Elsie and Frances were bona fide and that he had seen the fairies with his own eyes.
Fairies at Work and Play (Quest Books)
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#3 Frances Griffiths and the Leaping Fairy
The photograph was taken by Elsie Wright in 1920.
#4 Fairy Offers Tiny Harebells to Elsie
The photograph was taken by Frances Griffiths in 1920.
#5 The Fairies Enjoying Their Sun-Bath
The photograph was taken in 1920 and is the fifth photograph, of the fairies alone in the sunbath. Until her death, Frances Griffith swore that this photograph was the only genuine photograph of the Cottingly Fairies.
The Confession
In a 1982 TV interview on Arthur C. Clarke's "World of Strange Powers", Elsie Wright stated that they were too embarrassed to admit the truth after fooling the author of Sherlock Holmes.
"Two village kids and a brilliant man like Conan Doyle, well, we could only keep quiet".
In the same interview they also stated:
"I never even thought of it as being a fraud - it was just Elsie and I having a bit of fun and I can't understand to this day why they were taken in - they wanted to be taken in."
The cousins stated that the last, fifth photograph, of the fairies alone in the sunbath, was genuine and there really were fairies at Cottingley.
Interview With Elsie And Frances
Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths talk about taking the Cottingley Fairy Photographs.
Elsie Wright
- Born in 1901 to Arthur Wright and Polly Wright
- She was a very talented artist who used watercolors to paint landscapes and portraits.
- She had attended Bradford Art College at the age of 13.
- She worked in a photographic lab during WW1 where she worked in a darkroom with plate cameras.
- She later married Frank Hill who she met in the US.
- She was a captain in the WRVS working in military hospitals in Calcutta during World War 2.
- She lived in India with her husband until 1949 and later moved back to England after the declaration of independence.
- She had a son and daughter.
- Elsie died in 1988 at the age of 87.
Frances Griffith
- Born in 1907 to Sergeant Major Arthur Griffith and Annie Griffith.
- She moved from South Africa to live with her cousin in Cottingley.
- Frances married a soldier, Sydney Way in 1928.
- She settled in Ramsgate.
- She had at least two children, a son and a daughter.
- Frances died in 1986 at the age of 78.
An Interview With Frances Griffith's Daughter
The interview came about on the BBC Antiques Road show in the UK where Frances Griffith's daughter brought her mother's camera.
Cottingley Fairies Art Styles Framed Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 30x24
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Cottingley Fairies Photographic Poster Prints by Elsie Wright
Cottingley Fairies Art Styles Framed Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 21x17
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Cottingley Fairies Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 16x12
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Cottingley Fairies Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 24x18
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Cottingley Fairies Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 32x24
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Cottingley Fairies Photographic Poster Print by Elsie Wright, 40x30
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Book by Arthur Conan Doyle Sir
The Coming of the Fairies (Extraordinary World)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), best known as the author of Sherlock Holmes stories but also a devout spiritualist, was entirely convinced by a set of photographs apparently showing two young girls from Cottingley in Yorkshire playing with a group of tiny, translucent fairies. To demonstrate his unshakeable belief in the spirit world, he published The Coming of the Fairies in 1922. Doyle's book lays out the story of the photographs, their supposed provenance, and the implications of their existence. This quirky and fascinating book allows us to get inside the mind of an intelligent, highly respected man who happened to believe in fairies.
John M. Lynch's introduction to this Bison Books edition provides the background to appreciate Doyle's claims and, without supporting the existence of fairies, to understand why Doyle wanted them to exist. The photographs of the fairies are reproduced in their entirety, with the original captions, offering readers an opportunity to examine Doyle's and his supporters' claims to their authenticity.
Fairy Tale - A True Story
Amazon Price: $7.49 (as of 11/10/2009)
This movie is beautifully made and absolutely charming! The young girls who portray Elsie and Frances are so charming and innocent as they play in Cottingley Glen with the fairies.
Click Here to Watch a Video of Fairy Tale - A True Story.
Fairy Tale: A True Story Movie Storybook (Cottingley Glen)
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Photographing Fairies
Photographing Fairies is an adult movie and a much darker version of the Cottingley Fairy Photographs.
![Photographing Fairies [VHS]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41YR7T1JXPL._SL160_.jpg)
Photographing Fairies [VHS]
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jptanabe wrote...
This is great! I've linked it in to my lens on Legendary creatures and will do on my lens on Fairies (when I get it written!)
Posted August 16, 2009
spirituality wrote...
You know I think this is a great lens. I've featured it on another lens of mine: http://www.squidoo.com/geoffrey-hodson about Geoffrey Hodson. Blessed by a squidangel too today :)
Posted July 30, 2009
24websurf wrote...
I was completely enchanted with this lens. It's so beautifully done and so complete. Thank you!
Posted June 17, 2009
MeltedRachel wrote...
Beautiful lens! I'd only seen one of those photos before so it was great to see some more. 5*
Posted June 14, 2009
financialadvisers4U wrote...
YES! I believe in Fairies! I enjoyed looking at this photos, once again...
Posted April 10, 2009
ideadesigns wrote...
You've built a very nice lens. They looked like cut outs when I first saw it. There's lots of fake things like this in the world. Although the spirit world is real... just be on the right side!
Posted January 30, 2009
K_Linda wrote...
As a young child, my world included little people...soooo, fairies? Why not? Very interesting lens. 5*'s.
Posted December 23, 2008
jess wrote
you deserve a sincere "bravo."
Posted November 09, 2008
WhitePineLane wrote...
Wonderful fairy lens! Lensrolling to my Corgi Legend: The Faerie Steed lens!
Posted October 18, 2008
0ctavias0fferings wrote...
Excellent lens, lensrolling with my fairy miniatures lens.
Posted September 30, 2008
gmarlett wrote...
Fascinating lens, amazing and very entertaining - thanks! It's interesting that Conan Doyle was fooled, but he had a lot invested in the Spiritualist movement.
Posted September 19, 2008
ChristiannaGarrett-Martin wrote...
A delightful tale and beautifully presented. Though I do actually believe in the existence of fairies. Clever hoax though. :)
Christianna.
Posted September 16, 2008
rms wrote...
Thanks for adding this great lens to the Gothic Tempations group!
Posted August 31, 2008
Graceonline wrote...
Enchanting! Excellent lens. Good writing. Fun tale. All the better because two smart little girls fooled half the world. Thank you for a lovely bedtime story before I sleep tonight.
Posted August 03, 2008
flighty02 wrote...
Nice job :) I actually thought about doing this lens as I live about a mile away from Cottingley but I like the way you have presented it.
Posted July 28, 2008
fefe wrote...
They did a pretty good job on the pictures for Photoshop not having been invented yet. :)
Posted July 19, 2008
Timewarp wrote...
Great lens, faires are real even if these photos aren't!
For spooky videos visit Hollow Vision Paranormal!
Posted July 16, 2008
Winter52 wrote...
It's a very cool topic and I'm in the mood to believe so I'm going to. lol... 5* because I want to. ;)
Posted July 16, 2008
chefkeem wrote...
Of course, I believe in fairies! I am one. Here's some of my "dust" to prove it: *****
Posted July 13, 2008
amandaquerque wrote...
What an amazing and interesting topic...I never knew about these and now I am fascinated!
Posted July 08, 2008
Hillandglen wrote...
If you believe in something strongly enough, then it truely becomes real...
Posted July 07, 2008
poddys wrote...
Lovely lens and it's a lovely story too. I saw a documentary on them years ago on tv. Very interesting. Maybe it was all a fake, I guess we will never know. Like Nessie, Bigfoot etc...
Posted July 04, 2008
Tiddledeewinks wrote...
I thought the pictures looked like cut-outs of fairies.How could anyone have been fooled? I have heard there are people who believe in them though.Perhaps they need an imaginary friend.
Posted June 29, 2008
chicandsavvy wrote...
You welcomed me to Squidoo my first week (thanks). I chortled over your "Save the Mosquitos" piece. Started reading your lenses this morning and couldn't stop. This fairy lens is enchanting.
Posted June 28, 2008
EverythingMouse wrote...
I remember learning this story on a children's programm when I was growing up in England. The pictures are beautiful, and I love this story.
Posted June 28, 2008
coopd wrote...
I remember seeing a couple of these pictures years ago but I never knew the story behind them. Thanks for sharing!
Posted June 26, 2008
Barkely wrote...
This is a very interesting story. I love fairy gardens, and reading any story related to fairies:) I big thumbs up!
Posted June 23, 2008
Kanga wrote...
What a fantastic story! Those pictures really do fire the imagination.
Posted June 21, 2008
ShannonC wrote...
Great lens...this story fascinated me as a kid, I so wanted it to be true
Posted June 21, 2008
spirituality wrote...
Great lens. I feature it on my theosophical society lens, and have taken it as a good starting point to explain something of the 'atmosphere' of the TS in that era.
Posted June 21, 2008
WhippetTalk wrote...
Lovely! I remember reading about the Cottingley Faries in a book about ghosts, faries and such as a child. Then I saw the movie Fairy Tale about the girls. Today, we look at these photos and obviously can see it as pure fabrication. But can you imagine what people thought in those days, especially when someone like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed it to be true? 5 star lens!
Posted June 20, 2008
Photo Credit:
Lensmaster enslavedbyfaeries, aka Bite Bella, has been a member since August 26 2007, has rated 1,687 lenses, favorited 704, and has created 165 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Twilight Movie Themed Bedding & Bedroom Decor". See all my lenses
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