The Cock Lane Ghost: Murder, Sex and Haunting in Dr Johnson's London

by Paul Chambers

The Cock Lane Ghost is a true story of sexual infatuation, conspiracy, murderous accusations and ghostly visitations. Played out in London in the 1760s, it involved everyone from a drunken landlord, respected clergymen, newspaper journalists and a powerful aristocratic family to Dr Samuel Johnston.

Its effect was such that the term Cock Lane was still synonymous with folly, superstition and corruption over a century later. Paul Chambers draws on a wealth of contemporary sources to paint a vivid picture of the events that led to the scandal and its aftermath in this entertaining portrait of eighteenth-century life.

Genres: History

264 pages, Hardcover

First published March 8, 2006

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing of the Cock Lane ghost story before I spotted this book but this exhaustive study of the case, which without doubt became a cause célèbre, has certainly rectified that omission as Paul Chambers give a definitive account of the mystery that was played out dramatically in London in the 1760s.

It all began after Frances Lynas had run off to London with William Kent, her dead sister's husband. The couple lodged in the house of Richard Parsons, an alcoholic and well-known debtor. Kent who had previously been having an illicit affair with Frances had fallen foul of her family and very quickly he had a dispute with Parsons.

Unfortunately Frances died quite suddenly a mysterious ghost began to make appearances in the house in Cock Lane. The ghost regularly made its presence felt in the room of Parsons' 11-year-old daughter Berry by making knocking and scratching sounds. A system of communication was developed with the suspected ghost and it transpired that there were suspicions of murder about Frances' death and Kent was the prime suspect.

The situation made the press and consequently aroused the public's attention. Huge numbers of sightseers crowded into Cock Lane and as the ghostly phenomenon grew, famous people, including Horace Walpole, Oliver Goldsmith, William Hogarth and Dr Johnson, became involved in the mystery. And they attended many seances in the house to determine whether or not the ghost was real or a hoax.

Eventually after many confrontations involving some of the finest minds in London the situation was resolved and life in Cock Lane got back to normal.

Paul Chambers has done superb research, drawing on many contemporary sources to paint a vivid picture of the events leading up the scandal and its eventual aftermath in this most entertaining and fascinating portrait of 18th-century life.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high four. Mainly a well written fascinating look at the scandal but a couple of boring bits, particularly Chapter 23.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating study of what was apparently one of the biggest sensations of eighteenth century London, a story which was taken up and run with by the infant newspapers much in the same vein as the red-top tabloids would cover a scandal today. It seems incredible that in the so-called Age of Enlightenment so many people (including the aristocracy and even royalty) could be taken in by a 'supernatural' visitation.

Though Doctor Johnson's picture is prominent on the cover he has but a small part to play, the stage being taken by the various priests and lawyers who struggled to prove that the ghost was really an elaborate hoax.

A well-written and absorbing tale.

[Nikki J · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellently-told tale of a well-researched true event.
Even though society changes around them, people remain fundamentally the same. And people can be odd!
A great read. Some books relating so many historical details can be dry and heavy-going. This one isn't. It's a difficult book to put down.