Prince Llewelyn Hotel, Beddgelert

button_lang_frenchPrince Llewelyn Hotel, Beddgelert

A meteorite crashed through the roof of this hotel one night in 1949. The noise woke the landlord, but he went straight back to sleep! See below for more about the meteorite.

The hotel was built c.1830 as the village grew to accommodate more visitors. The building was extended later that century, and again in the early 20th century. The staff included an ostler, who looked after guests’ horses.

One stormy night in November 1877, ostler Robert Evans took a group to Rhyd Ddu. He died at some point while returning with the empty carriage, but the horse knew its way back to the Prince Llewelyn Hotel. People who heard the horse and carriage in the village assumed Robert was taking them to the hotel’s stables, but the horse made its way over the river bridge and found shelter in a lane. Hours later, people on their way to work discovered the horse standing motionless. Robert’s cold body sat upright, holding the reins.

beddgelert_meteorite
Part of the Beddgelert meteorite
© Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales

On 21 September 1949, a guest in the hotel heard muffled explosions above at 1.47am, followed by a buzz which grew louder and louder. Finally there was a crash of breaking slates.

As the new day dawned, the landlord’s wife went into an upstairs lounge and saw a hole in the ceiling – and a dark stone on the floor. Scientists later confirmed that it was a meteorite – a rock from outer space which had survived its passage through the Earth’s atmosphere. It measured about 9cm x 7cm and weighed 794g.

A plastercast of the meteorite was taken, enabling replicas to be made. The rock was then cut open for analysis and classified as olivine-bronzite chondrite. It has a high iron content. Parts of the rock reside in various institutions, including the National Museum Cardiff (see photo).

Postcode: LL55 4LT    View Location Map

Website of the Prince Llewelyn Hotel

More about meteorites in Wales - National Museum Wales website