The Cottingley Fairies
Were the Cottingley Fairies ever real?
4.4 (29)
36 mins
Explore how a handful of photographs transformed two young cousins into the center of one of history's most famous paranormal controversies. Discover why Arthur Conan Doyle believed the images supported the existence of fairies and how experts and skeptics debated their authenticity. Also uncover how the eventual admission of fakery turned the photographs into a classic example of how belief can influence what people see.
Ep 1:
Two Girls, a Camera, and a Lie
In wartime Yorkshire, two young cousins invent a prank to silence teasing adults—paper cutouts, hatpins, and a borrowed camera—never imagining where it would lead.
Ep 2:
Sherlock's Creator Chases Fairies
Grief-stricken and desperate for proof of life beyond death, Arthur Conan Doyle stakes his reputation on the fairy photographs, mistaking a hatpin for a navel along the way.
Ep 3:
The Secret They Took to the Grave
Decades later the truth finally surfaces, confessions clash with loyalty, and one photograph remains a mystery neither woman would ever fully explain away.
Discussions (5)
Herbert
Level 7 · 5 days agoConan Doyle described the hoax perfectly in his own book then said nah impossible lol
Mario
Level 3 · 5 days agoConan Doyle wasn't that naive tbf
Jarvis
Level 2 · 5 days agoThe fairy illustrations were from Princess Mary's Gift Book (1914) by Claude Shepperson. Randi confirmed this.
