Middlesbrough meteorite

The Middlesbrough meteorite is a space rock discovered in 1881 near St. Luke's Hospital and now housed in a museum. It features an exceptionally thick outer crust that remained intact, making it a notably complete specimen from space.

Four railroad workers found the stone in 1881 after hearing an unusual sound and recovered it from an embankment. A dispute over ownership followed the discovery, with both the railroad company and major museums claiming rights to it.

The meteorite arrived at this location through the daily work of railroad employees, who became witnesses to an extraordinary event. Their discovery highlights how ordinary workers sometimes encounter objects of scientific importance during routine tasks.

The object is now on display in a museum where visitors can see it during visiting hours. Anyone interested in space rocks or scientific collections will find this specimen well presented and easy to view.

The European Space Agency scanned this stone in 2010 to compare it with future discoveries from Mars and learn more about space rocks. This small object found on Earth became part of a larger space exploration research project.

GPS coordinates: 54.55300,-1.21300

Latest update: December 12, 2025 12:00