Press Releases

Wanted: memories of the Beddgelert Meteorite

Amgueddfa Cymru and Cardiff University are in search of new information on the extraterrestrial.

In the early hours of 21 September 1949, many people in north Wales and Cheshire saw a brilliant light travelling rapidly across the sky. If you were one of these people or know someone who witnessed this occurrence (now described as the Beddgelert Meteorite), Amgueddfa Cymru would like to hear from you in Beddgelert on Saturday, 19 September 2009.

This year (2009) marks 60 years since a guest at the Prince Llewelyn Hotel, Beddgelert witnessed the landing of the Beddgelert Meteorite. This particular guest heard a series of dull explosions followed by three or four seconds' silence, ending with a buzzing sound ‘like a light aeroplane' which grew in intensity until a sound of shattering roof slates was heard.

A neat, round hole was later found in the slates of the hotel roof and the dark-coloured stone, which had made a jagged hole in the ceiling, was identified as a meteorite - only the second ever known to have come from Wales.

Marking the anniversary of this rare event, Amgueddfa Cymru in partnership with the Faulkes Telescope Project at Cardiff University and BBC Wales, will be displaying information on the meteorite at Beddgelert Village Hall from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 19 September 2009.

We are also interested in new information about the evening's events. Heather Jackson, Geology Interpreter, who's leading on the project on behalf of Amgueddfa Cymru explains:

"We're interested in speaking to people who were either in the area on the evening of 21 of September 1949, knows someone who was or has been told stories by their families or friends. This information could then be used to paint a clearer picture during our celebratory events this September of what happened in Beddgelert 60 years ago."

If you have a story to share, please visit us in Beddgelert or contact Heather Jackson on (029) 2057 3142 or heather.jackson@museumwales.ac.uk. The Beddgelert Meteorite has been examined by being carefully cut up and distributed between various museums, universities and research institutes. As a result, National Museum Cardiff is lucky enough to have a small piece of the Beddgelert Meteorite, which is on display in the exhibition Evolution of Wales. This piece will be taken up to Beddgelert for the anniversary event.

Read more about meteorites in Wales

This event is part of the Down to Earth Project, funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council, through Cardiff University.

Admission to National Museum Cardiff is free thanks to the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

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For further information please contact Catrin Mears, Communications Officer on (029) 2057 3185/07920 027067 or email catrin.mears@museumwales.ac.uk.