The Cottingley Fairy Photos Fooled Arthur Conan Doyle for Decades

The Cottingley Fairy Photos are one of history's most famous hoaxes—and they fooled Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, for the rest of his life.

In 1917, two young girls in Yorkshire, England took photographs that appeared to show real fairies dancing in their garden. When the images reached Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he was convinced they were genuine proof of the supernatural. He staked his reputation on them, published articles defending their authenticity, and never wavered in his belief.

But the truth was far simpler: Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright had created the fairies using paper cutouts, hatpins, and a children's book. They kept the secret for over 60 years.

This is the story of how two girls fooled the world's most famous author—and why even the creator of literature's greatest detective couldn't see through their innocent deception.

CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction: The Hoax That Fooled a Genius
0:26 - Frances and Elsie at Cottingley Beck
2:15 - The First Fairy Photograph (July 1917)
3:51 - The Theosophical Society Gets Involved
5:39 - Arthur Conan Doyle Enters the Story
6:25 - The Strand Magazine Publication & Public Reaction
9:05 - Decades of Mystery and Silence
10:02 - The 1980s Confession: The Truth Revealed
11:27 - Why It Worked: Grief, Hope, and Belief
12:14 - Legacy: The Photographs Today

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