The Star that Fell to Earth

In 1857, a meteorite was seen across the south east of England, heading toward Suffolk. It was recorded in some newspaper entries, and seems to have fallen into the Stour Valley near Foxearth Mill

November 3rd 1857 Bury Free Press

Letters to the Editor.



About ½ a mile south east of Hornsey rail station at 5-30 in the evening, I observed the descent of a brilliant meteor, it's descent was perpendicular and appeared like a very large orange but of blue colour changing to red leaving behind a stream of sparks.



J.D. of Stoke Newington.



Nov. 1st. Editors Note

As the meteor was falling in the direction of Suffolk, it would be quite interesting and might solve the question as to the distance of these bodies, to know where it was observed in this county.

November 10th 1857 Bury Free Press

A correspondent informs us that his daughter, aged 14 , saw "the ball of fire" at Glemsford Town End and it appeared to fall among some trees at Foxearth water mill, she went home and said how frightened she was.

Paul Suttle and GH, our resident historian, were recently talking about old times, whilst out walking by the gravel pits which are called the Star Field pits. Paul casually said "my father, David Suttle, who worked for A.V.C.Lambert of Foxearth Hall was working on those fields sometime, I think, in the 1930-40s when he found what he thought was a meteorite, he brought it home, a heavy lead molten metal object and it kicked about our garden for years and we never thought anything of it".
Was this how the field, which is now a well known fishing spot of several acres, got the name "Star Field Pits"? Where is the 'meteorite' now?

This is not the first meteorite strike in Suffolk. On Oct 30 1801 a Suffolk miller’s house and stable was razed to the ground by fire started by a meteor strike. There was a meteorite strike at East Bergholt. We have already, in a previous entry, mentioned a meteor strike at Aldborough