The Ashdon Meteorite

One hundred years ago, on 9th March 1923, Frederick Pratt, a thatcher, was working in the corner of a field near the village of Ashdon in north Essex when, about 1pm, a fast- moving object passed over his head and hit the ground about 30 yards from him causing earth to ‘fly up like water’.

The object was a meteorite. It had reached the end of its journey having travelled in space for over 4.5 billion years.

This booklet tells the story of that remarkable event, explains in plain language what meteorites are and why they are of great scientific importance.