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| HER Number: | MYO1076 |
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| Type of record: | Building |
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| Name: | OBSERVATORY |
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Summary
Observatory situated within the Museum Gardens, York. The building was constructed in 1832-3 to house instruments offered to the Yorkshire Philosophical Society by Dr Pearson, rector of South Kilworth, Leicestershire. It is a two storey building, octagonal on plan, constructed of Magnesian limestone ashlar with a pyramidal, revolving, lead-covered roof. The roof was designed by John Smeaton. The telescope was designed and built by Thomas Cooke. A restoration of the building took place in 1981.
Monument Type(s)
- OBSERVATORY (1832-1833, Early 19th Century - 1832 AD to 1833 AD)
- OBSERVATORY (1981, 20th Century - 1981 AD to 1981 AD)
Protected Status
- Listed Building
- Scheduled Monument
- Conservation Area
Full description
Observatory. 1832-33, restored 1981. Telescope designed and built by Thomas Cooke of York, rotating conical roof designed by John Smeaton, for the Yorkshire Philosophical Society. Magnesian limestone ashlar with lead roof. PLAN: octagonal on shallow plinth. EXTERIOR: basement and 2 storeys, lower storey with moulded cornice, upper storey set back. Door is of 4 flush panels. Each alternate face on ground floor has 12-pane sash window with slender glazing bars. Upper storey has 2-light casement windows. Openings are chamfered. INTERIOR: not inspected. HISTORICAL NOTE: the observatory was built following the inaugural meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831, restored and refitted in 1981 to mark the Association's 150th anniversary. For many years, the telescope it housed was the largest refracting telescope in the world. (An Inventory of the Historical Monuments in the City of York: RCHME: Outside the City Walls East of the Ouse: HMSO London: 1975-: 45).
Listing NGR: SE6049052070
Derived from English Heritage LB download dated: 22/08/2005
NMR Information:
No further description provided.
Related event: (UID 613515) INVESTIGATION BY RCHME/EH ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Architectural Survey
14-NOV-1995 - 14-NOV-1995
Related records
| MYO4563 | Related to: FESTIVAL CONCERT ROOM (Monument) |
| MYO1074 | Related to: CURATORS HOUSE (Building) |
| MYO4560 | Related to: Museum Gardens (Monument) |
| MYO1069 | Related to: YORKSHIRE MUSEUM, TEMPEST ANDERSON HALL AND ST MARYS ABBEY REMAINS (Building) |
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