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Journal of Architectural Conservation

Volume 15, Issue 3, November 2009

Conservation of Historical Observatories in the UK and Ireland

Elliss Sharpe

Paper Summary

Historic buildings dedicated to scientific research are mentioned rarely in architectural heritage literature. They are often relegated to novelty interest status, although astronomy is one of the few sciences to possess unique, purpose-built and, in many cases, easily recognisable buildings. They have been central to significant advances in navigation, accurate timekeeping, and refining the calendar; all in addition to wider investigation of the cosmos.

There are many observatory buildings in the UK associated with institutions or historic figures, and historic monuments that most would not recognise as observatories, but which have been used for astronomical observation or specifically built for the purpose. This paper seeks to heighten awareness of observatories, in this UNESCO International Year of Astronomy 2009, by discussing their historic development, their relative rarity and, through examples, the conservation status of some of these highly-specialized buildings, which continue to survive at a time when modern astronomical observation is performed elsewhere.

Figure 4 - Radcliffe Observatory 1772-99.   Top: The interior of the ‘regular’ observatory at the top of the tower where portable instruments were used.   Bottom: Occasionally telescopes were moved out onto the flat roofs using trolleys via one of the larger sash windows that feature a low stable door for the purpose. (Courtesy of Dr Andrew Markins, Green Templeton College, University of Oxford.)

Ellis Sharpe

Elliss Sharpe has worked in the construction industry in management and consultant roles on a variety of projects. Following experience of historic building conservation on prominent buildings in London, including Horseguards Parade and the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, he undertook an MSc Degree in Conservation of the Historic Environment, University of Reading. He is an amateur astronomer, past secretary of the Loughton Astronomical Society, member of the Society for the History of Astronomy, and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society. He is writing a book, Watch-Towers to the Cosmos, based on his MSc dissertation on historic observatories of the UK and Ireland

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