The 1922 Hathaway UFO Encounter: Britain's Earliest Documented Alien Contact
The enigmatic Hathaway encounter stands as one of the earliest documented UFO experiences in British history. On August 2, 1922, nine-year-old Richard Hathaway and his friend Leo Parks embarked on what should have been a routine birthday outing to Heaton Park in Greater Manchester. Their journey through the misty "long fields" near Irwell Valley instead became an extraordinary chapter in unexplained phenomena.
What makes this case particularly compelling is its detailed documentation. Hathaway himself recorded the encounter in his personal memoirs, describing with remarkable clarity the cylindrical craft and its occupants - beings approximately five feet tall with oval faces, large eyes, and ivory skin. The visitors allegedly showed the boys their ship's interior, explained their nuclear fusion technology, and revealed they came from a dying planet in another galaxy. This case, later investigated by prominent UFO researcher Philip Mantel in the 2020s, offers a fascinating glimpse into early 20th-century close encounters.
Key Takeaways
Richard Hathaway documented a detailed childhood UFO encounter from 1922 in his personal memoirs, making it a significant early case in British ufology.
The encounter involved humanoid beings who allegedly communicated through thought transference and possessed advanced nuclear fusion technology.
The Hathaway case resurfaced decades later through family connections, becoming the subject of serious investigation by established UFO researchers.
The Early Life of Richard Hathaway
Birth and Early Years in Greater Manchester
Richard Hathaway was born on August 2, 1913, in Limm of the Heights, a small village in Greater Manchester. He grew up in a modest terrace house at the bottom of a street that overlooked the Irwell Valley. His childhood home was situated near the A6 road, which cut through the village, with Bank Lane providing access down to the railway station in the valley below. The surrounding area featured long, narrow pastures locally known as "long fields," which served as a pathway across the valley toward Prestwich and Heaton Park.
The 1922 Unusual Encounter
On August 2, 1922, Richard Hathaway's ninth birthday, he and his school friend Leo Parks set out for a day of adventure at Heaton Park. The boys had meticulously planned their excursion, intending to explore the park's five islands and spend time on its magnificent lake. Richard's mother had prepared sandwiches and bottles of lemon juice for their journey, which began around 9:30 in the morning.
As they walked down Bank Lane, they noticed an unusual mist hanging over the valley, particularly thick above the long fields. While traversing these fields, the boys observed a large cylindrical object with cone-shaped ends hovering approximately 3-4 feet above the ground. The object featured numerous holes about 12 inches in diameter in its conical end and several funnel-shaped components beneath the main body.
According to Richard's account, the boys approached without fear and observed what appeared to be people moving inside the structure. These beings stood approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and wore two-piece suits with tunic collars in various soft colors. They had slim builds, oval-shaped faces with large eyes, and delicate ivory skin that appeared slightly Oriental in appearance.
Two of these beings—one male and one female—invited the boys inside their craft. Most surprisingly, the female addressed them by name in English. Inside, the boys were shown various rooms including:
A central control room with numerous instrument panels
Private quarters for each crew member
Technical areas housing propulsion and navigation systems
The beings reportedly explained they came from a distant planet and were exploring potential new homes as their world was dying. They claimed to use nuclear fusion for energy and communicated primarily through thought transference. After this extraordinary encounter, Richard and Leo continued with their birthday outing, carrying this unusual experience with them for decades to come.
The Hathaway Encounter
The Sighting of the Cylindrical Vessel
On August 2nd, 1922, Richard Hathaway celebrated his ninth birthday with an adventure that would later become significant in UFO research circles. He and his friend Leo Parks had planned a day trip to Heaton Park, about four miles from their homes in the village of Lilm O' Height. Setting off around 9:30 AM with sandwiches and lemon juice packed by Richard's mother, they began their journey down Bank Lane toward the railway station. As they reached the area known locally as the "long fields," they observed an unusual mist that appeared thicker over these narrow pastures.
Walking through the fields, the boys noticed something extraordinary emerging from the mist. It was a large cylindrical object with cone-shaped ends, resembling an elongated pipe. Initially, they assumed it might be equipment related to the nearby colliery, a familiar location they often explored.
Approach and Initial Insights
Moving closer to investigate, the boys realized this was no ordinary object. The strange vessel appeared to hover approximately 3-4 feet above the ground. Upon circling to examine it further, they observed numerous holes, approximately 12 inches in diameter, in the conical end of the craft. Several funnel-shaped components were visible beneath the main body, along with a soft glow emanating from the underside.
Despite the strangeness of the situation, neither Richard nor Leo felt afraid. Their curiosity drove them to approach within about 20 feet of the structure. At this point, a large door slid open, revealing movement inside the craft.
The Beings' Appearance and Behavior
Inside the vessel, the boys observed humanoid figures standing approximately 5'6" tall. These beings were dressed in two-piece suits with tunic collars in various soft colors. Some wore small turban-like headgear. The beings appeared to be of two distinct sexes - some with gentler features whom the boys perceived as female, and others with sterner yet still kind expressions whom they identified as male.
Physical Characteristics Clothing Demeanor Slim build Two-piece suits with tunic collars Gentle, kindly appearance Oval faces Various soft colors Non-threatening Large eyes Some with white rings on sleeves Calm, welcoming Ivory skin Some wearing turban-like headwear Delicate hands Slightly Oriental appearance
Two of these beings—one male and one female—approached the opening and gestured for the boys to come closer. Both Richard and Leo later recalled feeling no fear during this encounter.
Boarding the Craft
As the boys approached, they experienced the sensation of walking up a ramp, though nothing was visibly present beneath their feet. Upon entering the vessel, they were startled when the female being addressed them by name in perfect English, saying "Welcome Richard, Leo, to our ship."
The two beings took the children by the hand in a friendly gesture, ready to show them around the interior of their craft. This welcoming behavior further alleviated any potential anxiety the boys might have felt in such an extraordinary situation.
Tour of the Alien Vessel
The beings guided Richard and Leo through various sections of the craft. The central area contained numerous control panels with individuals monitoring instruments, while others relaxed on couches. Their guides explained this was a common area, and mentioned that each crew member had private quarters elsewhere on the ship.
Next, the boys were taken to a small room containing a screen that appeared to display images of their internal organs, though they experienced no physical examination. The tour continued through several areas:
Private Quarters - Each contained:
A lounge area with table and chairs
Working desk and bookcase
Large screen displaying recognizable local landscapes
Curtained alcove housing navigation and steering controls
Control Rooms - Featured advanced technology:
Push buttons and indicator lamps
Digital and analog instruments
Mimic diagrams
Screens showing system operations
Armament control stations
When asked about the vessel's construction, the beings described it as a special ductile, incorrodible material mined on their planet, possessing many times the strength of steel. They also mentioned their power source involved nuclear fusion technology, which they claimed was safer than the nuclear fission systems humans would develop in the following decades.
Communication and Thought Transference
Richard asked how the beings knew their names without introduction. The visitors explained they utilized a system of thought transference perfected among themselves, allowing them to intercept the boys' thoughts upon entering the craft. Richard and Leo noticed that few of the beings were actually speaking aloud, instead communicating mentally with one another.
This sophisticated telepathic ability appeared to function effortlessly among the beings, and to some extent allowed them to access the thoughts of the human children. Despite this potentially invasive capability, the boys didn't report feeling threatened or violated by this aspect of the encounter.
Revelations from the Visitors
When questioned about their intentions, the beings firmly denied any hostile purpose. They explained their home planet was dying, with only three million inhabitants remaining. They were searching for an uninhabited planet similar to Earth, considering our world already overcrowded and its people comparatively aggressive.
The beings shared several remarkable claims with the boys:
They originated from another galaxy
The universe contained countless galaxies with inhabited planets
Beings from various worlds had been observing each other "from time immemorial"
Earth would begin similar space observation within 100 years
They had previously visited Earth over a century earlier
Their home was light-years away, but they possessed technology for rapid interstellar travel
Many planets housed life forms with "unimaginable appearances" living in "unbelievable environments"
They declined to explain their travel technology further, stating that the human brain wasn't sufficiently developed to comprehend it. Despite Richard and Leo's youth, the beings treated them with respect while acknowledging the cognitive limitations of humans compared to their own species.
Aftermath and Impact
Richard Hathaway's Personal Accounts
Richard Hathaway, born on August 2, 1913, in Llims of the Heights near Manchester, documented an extraordinary childhood experience in his personal writings. His detailed memoirs, discovered after his passing, chronicle an unusual encounter that occurred on his ninth birthday in 1922 when he and his friend Leo Parks allegedly encountered non-terrestrial beings.
The incident began as the two boys set out for a birthday excursion to Heaton Park, approximately four miles from their homes. Walking through an area locally known as the "long fields," they noticed an unusual mist that seemed particularly dense that morning. As they ventured further, they observed a large cylindrical object with cone-shaped ends hovering approximately 3-4 feet above the ground.
The boys described seeing:
Multiple 12-inch diameter holes in the conical end
Several funnel-shaped objects beneath the main body
A soft light emanating from the underside
A large sliding door revealing occupants inside
According to Hathaway's writings, the craft contained humanoid beings approximately 5'6" tall wearing two-piece suits with tunic collars in various soft colors. These beings appeared in two distinct sexes, with oval faces, large eyes, and delicate features that Hathaway described as "pleasant and slightly Oriental in appearance."
The boys claimed they were welcomed aboard by name and given a tour of the vessel. Their guides showed them:
Area Description Central room Featured control panels, lounging areas with couches and tables Private quarters Individual spaces with lounges, working desks, and projection screens Control rooms Contained equipment for navigation, steering, and armaments
Hathaway wrote that the beings communicated through what they called "thought transference" and explained they came from a dying planet with only 3 million inhabitants remaining. They allegedly told the boys their craft was powered by nuclear fusion technology—which they claimed was far safer than the nuclear fission Earth would develop "in about the next 50 or 60 years."
When questioned about their intentions, the beings reportedly assured the children they had no hostile plans toward Earth. Instead, they were searching for an uninhabited planet similar to Earth, as they considered our world already overcrowded and its inhabitants "aggressive" compared to themselves.
The beings reportedly described coming from another galaxy and mentioned that civilizations throughout the universe had been observing each other for eons. They predicted that Earth would begin its own interstellar surveillance activities within a century.
Hathaway's account remained private until 2021, when his grandson-in-law shared the memoirs with UFO researcher Philip Mantel during the production of a documentary series about ufology.
UFO Encounters in Media
Philip Mantel's Television Documentary Series
In spring 2021, notable UFO researcher Philip Mantel participated in a four-part documentary series about ufology broadcast on an A&E affiliate channel. The series generated significant viewer response. After each episode aired, Mantel received numerous emails and social media messages from viewers eager to share their personal experiences with unexplained phenomena.
One particularly interesting communication came from a man named Steven regarding his wife's grandfather, Richard Hathaway. Before his death, Hathaway had documented his life experiences in personal memoirs, which included a remarkable childhood encounter from 1922. This account, now known in UFO circles as the "Hathaway encounter," describes a nine-year-old Richard and his friend Leo Parks encountering what appeared to be extraterrestrial beings while walking to Heaton Park on Richard's birthday.
Public Engagement and Shared Experiences
The television documentary series demonstrated the power of media to connect individuals with shared unusual experiences. Many viewers felt comfortable enough to break their silence about encounters they had previously kept private. The documentary created a platform for dialogue about unexplained phenomena.
Richard Hathaway's detailed account, preserved in his memoirs, provides a fascinating example of how people document and share their experiences across generations. His engineering background gave him a unique perspective when describing the alleged craft's technical aspects, including what he was told were "nuclear fusion devices" for power generation and control systems featuring:
Push buttons
Indicator lamps
Digital and analog instruments
Mimic diagrams
Monitoring screens
The beings reportedly communicated with the boys through "thought transference" and showed them various rooms within their vessel, including private quarters and control areas. According to Hathaway's account, the visitors claimed to come from a dying planet and were searching for a new home, though they considered Earth "overcrowded" and its inhabitants "aggressive."
Legacy of the Hathaway Encounter
The Hathaway Encounter has remained a significant case study within UFO research circles for decades. Richard Hathaway's detailed account, written in his personal memoirs before his passing, offers a remarkable window into what allegedly occurred on August 2, 1922.
The story resurfaced in 2021 when UFO researcher Philip Mantel received communication from Steven, whose wife was Hathaway's granddaughter. This connection brought the decades-old encounter back into discussion nearly a century after it reportedly took place.
Hathaway's description of the beings stands out for its level of detail. He described humanoid entities approximately 5'6" tall wearing two-piece suits with tunic collars in various soft colors. The entities displayed sexual dimorphism, with some wearing small turban-like headdresses and others having white rings around their sleeves that appeared to denote rank.
Physical characteristics of the beings:
Slim build
Oval faces with large eyes
Delicate features
Ivory skin with slightly Oriental appearance
Gentle demeanor
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is the technological sophistication described. The craft reportedly utilized nuclear fusion for power generation—a technology the beings claimed was safer than the nuclear fission they predicted humans would develop "in about the next 50 or 60 years." This prediction, made in 1922, aligns remarkably with the timeline of nuclear energy development on Earth.
The beings communicated both verbally and through what they called "thought transference." They demonstrated advanced medical scanning technology, showing the boys internal images of their bodies on screen displays without physical examination.
According to Hathaway's account, the craft was constructed from a special ductile, incorrodible material "many times the strength of steel" that was mined on their home planet. The interior contained control panels, private quarters, and various specialized rooms.
The visitors reportedly stated they came from another galaxy where their population had dwindled to just 3 million. They were searching for an uninhabited planet similar to Earth, as they considered our world already overcrowded and its inhabitants "aggressive" compared to themselves.
Perhaps most intriguing was their claim of having developed a system of "place and distance transference" that allowed them to traverse millions of light years in hours—essentially a form of faster-than-light travel that defies our current understanding of physics.
