The Sleeping Girl of Turville

Ellen Sadler (15 May 1859 – after 1901), sometimes called The Sleeping Girl of Turville, was a resident of Turville, a small village in Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom. In 1871, aged eleven, she purportedly fell asleep and did not wake for nine years.[1][2][3] The case attracted international attention from newspapers, medical professionals and the public.

• Born to a large, impoverished family of farm workers, Ellen was sent to work as a nursemaid at the age of eleven. Soon afterwards, she began suffering periods of drowsiness and was referred to a local hospital. After four months her condition was declared incurable, and she was sent home. Two days later, Ellen had a series of seizures and—her mother claimed—fell into a deep sleep from which she could not be roused.
• Ellen became a tourist attraction for the village, and her family made considerable money from visitors' donations. As the years progressed with no sign of Ellen's waking, speculation grew that her illness was either a hoax or caused by her mother, an issue that was never resolved. In late 1880, soon after her mother's death, Ellen awoke. She later married and had at least five children.

Ellen Sadler: The Sleeping Girl of Turville

• [[Ellen Sadler (born 15 May 1859 - after 1901), also known as the Sleeping Girl of Turville, was a resident of Turville, a small village in Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. At the age of eleven, she reportedly fell asleep and remained in that state for nine years. Her case gained international attention, drawing interest from newspapers, medical professionals, and the public.

Early Life and Mysterious Sleep

• Ellen Sadler was born into a large, impoverished family of farm workers. At the age of eleven, she was sent to work as a nursemaid. Soon after, she began experiencing periods of drowsiness and was referred to a local hospital. After four months, her condition was deemed incurable, and she was sent home. Two days later, Ellen experienced a series of seizures, and according to her mother, fell into a deep sleep from which she could not be awakened.
• Ellen's unusual condition turned her into a tourist attraction for the village, with her family profiting from visitors' donations. As the years went by with no sign of Ellen waking up, speculation grew that her illness was either a hoax or caused by her mother. However, this issue was never conclusively resolved.

Awakening and Later Life

• In late 1880, shortly after her mother's death, Ellen awoke from her long slumber. She later married and had at least five children. The exact cause of her extended sleep remains a mystery, and her story continues to intrigue people to this day.

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