Wold Newton meteorite
Encyclopedia
The Wold Cottage meteorite
(also called the Wold Newton meteorite) fell at 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795 a few miles away from the hamlet of Wold Newton
in Yorkshire
, England. The meteorite fell two fields away from a large house, the Wold Cottage, owned by Edward Topham. Topham was a poet, playwright, landowner and well respected local.
weighing around 25 kg.
The Wold Cottage meteorite was the first meteorite observed to fall in Britain and is the second largest ever recorded to land in the United Kingdom. It was used by scientists as proof that extraterrestrial matter existed, and was made of the same materials as terrestrial matter.
, a naturalist
, acquired it and gave fragments to interested people. Sowerby's fragments are now held by the Natural History Museum
in London
.
fell, commemorating the event.
It was built by Edward Topham, the owner of the land, in 1799 to mark the exact spot where the meteorite fell.
On the right you can read the text of the inscription on the landmark.
writer Philip José Farmer
in his "biographies" of fictional characters (Tarzan Alive and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life
) as the basis for a literary premise commonly referred to as the Wold Newton family
.
Wold Top which produces a real ale called "Falling Stone".
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
(also called the Wold Newton meteorite) fell at 3 p.m. on 13 December 1795 a few miles away from the hamlet of Wold Newton
Wold Newton, East Riding of Yorkshire
Wold Newton is a small Yorkshire Wolds village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately south of Scarborough and north west of Bridlington. The hamlet of Fordon is also part of the civil parish of Wold Newton...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England. The meteorite fell two fields away from a large house, the Wold Cottage, owned by Edward Topham. Topham was a poet, playwright, landowner and well respected local.
The meteorite
The meteorite is an L6 ordinary chondriteOrdinary chondrite
The Ordinary chondrites are a class of stony chondritic meteorites. They are by far the most numerous group and comprise about 87% of all finds...
weighing around 25 kg.
The Wold Cottage meteorite was the first meteorite observed to fall in Britain and is the second largest ever recorded to land in the United Kingdom. It was used by scientists as proof that extraterrestrial matter existed, and was made of the same materials as terrestrial matter.
Samples
James SowerbyJames Sowerby
James Sowerby was an English naturalist and illustrator. Contributions to published works, such as A Specimen of the Botany of New Holland or English Botany, include his detailed and appealing plates...
, a naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
, acquired it and gave fragments to interested people. Sowerby's fragments are now held by the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
The monument
There is a brick monument in the field where the meteoriteMeteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
fell, commemorating the event.
It was built by Edward Topham, the owner of the land, in 1799 to mark the exact spot where the meteorite fell.
On the right you can read the text of the inscription on the landmark.
In fiction
The event was used by the science fictionScience fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
writer Philip José Farmer
Philip José Farmer
Philip José Farmer was an American author, principally known for his award-winning science fiction and fantasy novels and short stories....
in his "biographies" of fictional characters (Tarzan Alive and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life
Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life
Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life is a fictional biography by Philip José Farmer about pulp fiction hero Doc Savage.The book is written with the assumption that Doc Savage was a real person. Kenneth Robeson, the author of the Doc Savage novels, is portrayed as writing fictionalized memoirs of the...
) as the basis for a literary premise commonly referred to as the Wold Newton family
Wold Newton family
The Wold Newton family is a literary concept derived from a form of crossover fiction developed by the science fiction writer Philip José Farmer...
.
Other
In 2003, the meteor inspired the founding of local breweryBrewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
Wold Top which produces a real ale called "Falling Stone".