The small market town of Todmorden, known for its industrial past, has become famous for mysterious UFO sightings dating back to the 1980s.
The small market town of Todmorden, located in the scenic Pennines, has gained notoriety not for its industrial history in the cotton trade, which peaked during the Industrial Revolution, but rather for a series of intriguing UFO sightings that have captivated local and national interest.
The phenomenon can be traced back to 1980 when the body of coal miner Zigmund Adamski was discovered on a coal pile in Todmorden, a week after he had gone missing. The circumstances surrounding his death were shrouded in mystery, as his body bore unusual burns on the head, shoulder, and neck, the origin of which has never been definitively explained. This event marked the beginning of Todmorden’s reputation as a hotbed for UFO-related occurrences.
The narrative intensified when Police Constable Alan Godfrey publicly commented on the bizarre nature of Adamski’s death, noting that he appeared to have been “frightened to death.” When posed with the suggestion that the incident could be linked to an alien abduction, Godfrey stated, “I am open-minded. I can’t rule it out,” indicating that the unusual circumstances surrounding Adamski’s demise had opened the door to speculation about extraterrestrial involvement.
Just six months later, Godfrey experienced his own encounter with the unexplained. While investigating reports of cattle wandering unattended in a local council estate, he reported witnessing a bright light in the sky, which he described as resembling a “rotating diamond-shaped object.” In an unexpected turn of events, his police radio failed shortly after he spotted the light, leaving him unable to call for assistance. The object vanished, and upon regaining awareness, Godfrey found himself some distance down the road with an unusual itchy red mark on his foot and a split boot, along with a total loss of memory for the preceding half hour. During subsequent hypnosis sessions, he recounted a vivid experience of being examined in what he believed to be a spacecraft by entities he considered to be aliens. However, in 2018, he expressed doubt about the validity of these memories, suggesting they were likely products of a dream.
Today, Todmorden continues to attract attention not only for its historic significance but also for its association with unexplained phenomena, reflecting a unique interplay between local history and modern-day intrigue surrounding the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.history.co.uk/articles/the-todmorden-ufo-mystery-a-close-encounter-in-west-yorkshire – This article discusses the Todmorden UFO mystery, including the disappearance and death of Zigmund Adamski and the UFO sightings in the area. It also covers PC Alan Godfrey’s claims of alien abduction, which contributed to Todmorden becoming known as a UFO hotspot.
- https://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/arts-and-culture/film-and-tv/happy-valley-the-story-of-the-todmorden-ufo-sighting-mentioned-in-sally-wainwrights-bbc-drama-3988774 – This piece mentions the Todmorden UFO sighting and its reference in the BBC drama ‘Happy Valley.’ It expands on PC Alan Godfrey’s encounter and its significance in British ufology.
- https://www.blaze.tv/series/todmorden-ufo-sighting-britains-roswell – This Blazetv series highlights the Todmorden UFO sighting as Britain’s Roswell, emphasizing the area’s reputation for frequent and unusual UFO sightings. It also details Godfrey’s experience and the mysterious death of Zigmund Adamski.
- https://www.expandedperception.com/are-there-ufos-in-space/ – This page, although not directly about Todmorden, provides broader context on UFO sightings and the significance of considering possible extraterrestrial life. It supports the intrigue surrounding UFO-related occurrences like those in Todmorden.
- https://www.livedapor.com/history-of-ufos/ – While not specific to Todmorden, this resource provides background on UFO history and phenomena, which is relevant to understanding why Todmorden is notable in this context. It discusses various cases of UFO sightings around the world, similar to those reported in Todmorden.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
4
Notes:
The narrative includes events from 1980 and mentions that in 2018, Alan Godfrey expressed doubt about his UFO encounter memories. There is no contemporary update or recent evidence to support new UFO sightings. The information appears to be largely historical.
Quotes check
Score:
2
Notes:
The narrative contains quotes from Alan Godfrey but does not provide specific sources or dates for these quotes. It is unclear if these are original or have been mentioned elsewhere.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The origin of the narrative is from a reputable UK news source, The Express. However, the subject matter deals with unsubstantiated claims of UFO sightings, which may not be widely verified or acknowledged as factual by mainstream scientific or government sources.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
While the story has historical roots, the plausibility of UFO-related claims remains low due to the lack of concrete evidence or recent scientific validation. The narrative does present an intriguing anecdote but lacks verifiable evidence to fully support its assertions.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is based on historical events but lacks recent evidence or scientific validation. The claims are intriguing but unsubstantiated, making it difficult to conclude with high confidence. While the source is generally reliable, the content deals with unverified phenomena.
