Warminster is a quaint town in western Wiltshire, nestled in the rolling countryside of southwestern England. Located about two hours west of London and just an hour southeast of Bristol, Warminster is in close proximity—roughly fifteen miles—to Stonehenge, the ancient monument that has inspired countless theories connecting it to religious, paranormal, and extraterrestrial phenomena. Warminster’s history stretches back to Anglo-Saxon times over a thousand years ago, though the land had been occupied long before, including by Romans, and folklore even suggests a connection to the legendary King Arthur.
Image courtesy: Cult of Weird
By the mid-20th century, Warminster had evolved into a peaceful, modest community. After World War II, its population hovered around 10,000 and slowly grew over the decades, reaching about 18,000 by the early 2000s. Warminster resembled many English towns with its quaint downtown area, Sunday church bells, and a small football club, Warminster Town F.C., playing in the Western League Division One.
Yet, visitors to the town are greeted by a peculiar sight—a long stone wall adorned with a mural of the night sky, complete with black triangles floating against a dark backdrop and strange thin figures that unmistakably resemble extraterrestrials. This mural hints at the town’s unexpected and eerie claim to fame. Despite its unassuming appearance, Warminster is known widely for one thing: UFO sightings.
Early Encounters and the Rumblings of Mystery
Although the UFO craze in Warminster surged in the 1960s, the region’s encounters with the unexplained date back even further. In the 1930s, residents occasionally reported strange sounds echoing across the town—sounds described as "stark" and "cracking," that predated both World War II and the rise of science fiction culture. These incidents were rare, yet significant, as they seemed to foreshadow the events that would eventually place Warminster on the map of global UFO lore.
Then, on Christmas morning in 1964, something extraordinary happened. Around 6 a.m., a local housewife named Marjorie Bye began her walk to Christmas mass, only to be interrupted by an unsettling noise near Bell Hill. Marjorie described it as a crackling sound, "like branches being dragged over gravel." The experience left her deeply disturbed. When Arthur Shuttlewood, a seasoned journalist for The Warminster Journal, penned an article titled "Bell Hill Mystery: Weird Noises On Christmas Morning," he had no idea that this small filler story, buried in the back pages, would set off a phenomenon.
Arthur Shuttlewood: Chronicler of The Thing
Shuttlewood’s article struck a chord with readers, and within days, The Warminster Journal was flooded with letters from locals who claimed to have heard similar sounds on Christmas morning. Some had witnessed strange lights in the sky, while others described peculiar shapes that hovered silently before vanishing. Shuttlewood began compiling a growing dossier of accounts, transforming from a skeptical journalist into the chief chronicler of what locals now called "The Thing."
Reports continued to roll in, each more bizarre than the last. Witnesses described metallic orbs, cigar-shaped crafts, and silent, hovering shapes that defied explanation. Some encounters were accompanied by mysterious booms or hissing sounds, while others left physical effects—cars stalled, and animals reacted with intense agitation, especially dogs. A few brave souls attempted to photograph these objects, though the elusive nature of The Thing made capturing a clear image challenging.
A Town Transformed by UFO Mania
By the spring and summer of 1965, Warminster had become a magnet for UFO enthusiasts, skeptics, and curious onlookers. Cley Hill and Cradle Hill, both overlooking the town, became popular spots for night watch gatherings. These hills, especially Cley Hill with its Iron Age fort and legends of supernatural origins, drew even more attention due to their proximity to Stonehenge and a nearby military base on Salisbury Plain, fueling both wonder and skepticism.
On August 27th, 1965, the town held a public meeting to address the phenomenon, allowing residents to voice their experiences and concerns. The meeting, originally intended for town officials to present explanations, turned into an impassioned session of firsthand testimonies, and national news outlets were there to capture it. Warminster’s UFO activity was now public knowledge, and the town was firmly in the spotlight.
The Sightings Escalate
The sightings continued to escalate. In early June, multiple witnesses reported a large cigar-shaped object hovering over Heytesbury, a nearby village. Later that August, a powerful explosion-like boom was heard across Boreham Fields, accompanied by a "monstrous orange flame crackling in the sky," according to one witness. As summer turned to fall, strange lights and sounds remained a regular occurrence. By August 1965, Warminster’s population had surged as UFO enthusiasts and tourists flocked to the town, doubling the population and filling every available room.
One of the most iconic images of the Warminster phenomenon emerged in September 1965, when Gordon Faulkner, a local factory worker with a passion for photography, claimed to capture a picture of The Thing. The photograph—a grainy, blurry image of a saucer-like shape—was featured in the Daily Mirror, bringing national and international attention. While some questioned its authenticity, the image became a symbol of Warminster’s UFO craze and remains an enduring piece of the town’s lore.
Image courtesy: The UFO's terrorised Wiltshire - Flashbak
Rumors, Legends, and the Expansion of the Myth
As the sightings continued, so did the rumors. Stories circulated of flocks of pigeons found dead, seemingly dropped mid-flight, and of mutilated rodents bearing unexplained puncture wounds. David Halton, a local man known for his tall tales, spread these accounts, blurring the line between fact and folklore. Whether true or not, these tales added a sinister edge to the Warminster phenomenon, unsettling residents and stoking the imaginations of visitors.
By Christmas of 1965, exactly a year after Marjorie Bye’s fateful walk, sightings surged once more. Even Shuttlewood himself reported seeing a glowing object, an experience that solidified his belief in Warminster’s otherworldly visitors. The British UFO Research Association (BUFORA) took a keen interest, marking Warminster as Britain’s foremost UFO hotspot. The town embraced its newfound identity, with local shops selling alien-themed memorabilia and even a UFO-themed bed and breakfast.
Warminster’s Legacy: Britain’s Roswell
Through the late 1960s and beyond, sightings became less frequent, but Warminster’s reputation endured. The arrival of crop circles in the mid-1970s rekindled interest, with many connecting the phenomenon to Stonehenge and Warminster’s unexplained past. By the 1980s, the town had settled back into a quieter existence, but the stories of The Thing continued to attract the curious. Arthur Shuttlewood, Warminster’s reluctant yet devoted chronicler, passed away in 1996, leaving behind a legacy of UFO literature and a town forever changed.
In 2015, Warminster marked the 50th anniversary of The Thing with a special conference attended by UFO experts and enthusiasts. A colorful mural commemorating the town’s history of UFO sightings was painted on a stone wall, symbolizing Warminster’s embrace of its reputation as Britain’s own Roswell.
Today, sightings are rare, but the legend of The Warminster Thing lives on. Visitors still gather at Cley Hill and Cradle Hill, gazing skyward and hoping for a glimpse of something extraordinary. Whether it was military experiments, a social phenomenon, or truly something from beyond, Warminster’s brush with the unknown remains one of the most enduring mysteries of the UFO world. For believers, skeptics, and the simply curious, the story of The Warminster Thing offers a timeless reminder of how the ordinary can, in an instant, become extraordinary.
References:
Books
"The Warminster Mystery" by Arthur Shuttlewood (1967)
Written by the journalist who chronicled much of the phenomenon, this book provides firsthand accounts, detailed descriptions of sightings, and Shuttlewood's evolving views on the Warminster sightings. It’s a primary source for understanding the Warminster UFO wave from the perspective of one of its most involved investigators.
"Warnings from Flying Friends" by Arthur Shuttlewood (1968)
In this follow-up to The Warminster Mystery, Shuttlewood delves deeper into the mystery, exploring theories of extraterrestrial visitation and offering more testimonies from locals. Shuttlewood’s writing combines both journalism and speculation, giving readers a sense of the cultural atmosphere around Warminster at the time.
"The Warminster Triangle: The Quest for the Truth Behind Britain's Most Unbelievable UFO Mysteries" by Kevin Goodman and Steve Dewey (2009)
This modern investigation revisits Warminster with a critical eye, re-evaluating the original sightings and exploring possible explanations, from psychological to military. Goodman and Dewey provide a balanced perspective, ideal for readers interested in both the mythology and rational theories surrounding the phenomenon.
"In Alien Heat: The Warminster Mystery Revisited" by Steve Dewey and Kevin Goodman (2005)
Another work by Dewey and Goodman, this book reexamines the evidence surrounding The Warminster Thing, including psychological and cultural interpretations. It’s a thorough exploration of how media and local culture contributed to the UFO phenomenon.
Articles
"Warminster Thing: What Was Britain's Roswell Incident?" – BBC News
This article provides a concise overview of the Warminster UFO phenomenon, highlighting key events and cultural impacts. The BBC covers the background and ongoing legacy of the sightings in Warminster, including the town’s commemorative UFO mural.
"In The 1960s The ‘Warminster Thing’ And UFOs Terrorised Wiltshire" – Flashbak
A detailed article that recounts the events of the Warminster sightings with historical context. Flashbak offers insights into both the social impact and the strange occurrences reported by locals.
"The Warminster Thing – Britain’s UFO Hotspot" – The Unexplained Mysteries website
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the Warminster phenomenon, summarizing key sightings, popular theories, and the impact of Shuttlewood’s work. It’s a helpful resource for readers looking to understand the broader mystery.
Read here
Documentaries
"UFOs and The Warminster Thing" (1970)
A classic British television documentary that covers the Warminster UFO sightings and features interviews with locals and enthusiasts. It captures the atmosphere of the time and provides firsthand insights into the phenomenon’s impact on the town.
"Britain's Closest Encounters: The Warminster Thing" – Channel 5 (2019)
This recent documentary revisits the Warminster sightings with a modern perspective, including interviews with witnesses, historians, and UFO researchers. It explores the theories and legacy of Warminster’s encounters and is an accessible introduction to the phenomenon.
"Warminster Thing Documentary" on YouTube
Several short, fan-made documentaries on YouTube cover the Warminster mystery, blending archival footage with modern analysis. Searching “Warminster Thing Documentary” on YouTube will yield a variety of perspectives on the topic.
Online Resources and Websites
British UFO Research Association (BUFORA)
BUFORA is a longstanding British organization that researches UFO sightings in the UK. Their website contains resources and articles on British UFO cases, including mentions of Warminster.
Unresolved: The Warminster "Thing"
This website offers a detailed account of The Warminster Thing, with a narrative structure that examines both historical and paranormal perspectives.
Spooky Isles: The Warminster Thing
Spooky Isles explores British ghost stories, myths, and paranormal phenomena, with an article dedicated to The Warminster Thing that provides background and theories on the sightings.
Wiltshire Times: "UFO mural marks 50 year anniversary of 'The Warminster Thing'"
This article discusses the town’s modern-day acknowledgment of its UFO legacy through the creation of a commemorative mural, illustrating how the phenomenon remains part of Warminster’s cultural identity.
Podcasts
"Unexplained – S04 Episode 2: Warminster"
In this episode of Unexplained, the popular paranormal podcast explores the events in Warminster with dramatic storytelling and analysis of theories, making it a compelling listen for fans of true mysteries.
[Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify]
"The Strange Recital – The Warminster Thing"
This podcast episode offers an engaging retelling of Warminster’s UFO sightings and Shuttlewood’s involvement, incorporating elements of local lore and modern analysis.
[Available on major podcast platforms]
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