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Latitude: 55.4246 / 55°25'28"N
Longitude: -1.6471 / 1°38'49"W
OS Eastings: 422435
OS Northings: 614577
OS Grid: NU224145
Mapcode National: GBR J5YQ.68
Mapcode Global: WHC1D.NXW9
Plus Code: 9C7WC9F3+R5
Entry Name: The Observatory
Listing Date: 31 December 1969
Last Amended: 1 September 1988
Grade: I
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1154280
English Heritage Legacy ID: 237048
Also known as: Ratcheugh Observatory
Ratcheugh Folly
ID on this website: 101154280
NU 21 SW LONGHOUGHTON RATCHEUGH
7/157 The Observatory
31.12.69 (formerly listed
as The Observatory
on Ratcheugh Crag)
I
Gazebo and eyecatcher. Late C18 by Robert Adam for the Duke of Northumberland;
additions c.1850. Rough-faced stone with ashlar dressings; towers have flat
roofs (not seen) except for Welsh slates on pent-roofed part of south tower.
Screen wall with towers and turrets on crest of whinstone escarpment, commanding
views west over Alnwick and east towards the sea. Castellated Gothick style.
West elevation: Chamfered plinth. Main tower near left end has open base
with segmental hollow-chamfered arch flanked by semi-octagonal buttresses
with pyramidal tops below band; at 1st-floor level three 12-pane sash windows,
with intersecting heads under round arches, set in recess with corbelled top;
moulded string below embattled parapet. 1st floor band continued along
flanking walls with smaller round arches to taller semicircular turrets with
various shaped loops. Right lower wall has large semicircular bow and square
turret, with quatrefoil and cruciform loops, and joins rectangular south
tower. Tower has central bow containing ground- and 1st-floor 4-centred-
arched windows (boarded over) and band on corbels below irregular parapet;
lower pent part to far right.
Rear elevation of main tower similar to front. Turret to left has boarded
door under round arch on to newel stair, from which short wall walk leads to
balcony, on left return of tower, with a central part-glazed door. South
tower has quatrefoil loop to rear and boarded window openings in returns,
under 4-centred or pointed arches.
Interior: Observatory in Main Tower has fluted dado rail and fan tracery
cornice.
Listing NGR: NU2243514577
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