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Latitude: 53.9612 / 53°57'40"N
Longitude: -1.088 / 1°5'16"W
OS Eastings: 459935
OS Northings: 452066
OS Grid: SE599520
Mapcode National: GBR NQVM.7R
Mapcode Global: WHFC3.8P5M
Plus Code: 9C5WXW66+FR
Entry Name: Observatory
Listing Date: 2 November 1972
Grade: II
Source: Historic England
Source ID: 1257124
English Heritage Legacy ID: 464207
ID on this website: 101257124
Location: Museum Gardens, York, North Yorkshire, YO30
County: York
Electoral Ward/Division: Guildhall
Parish: Non Civil Parish
Built-Up Area: York
Traditional County: Yorkshire
Lieutenancy Area (Ceremonial County): North Yorkshire
Church of England Parish: York St Olave with St Giles
Church of England Diocese: York
Tagged with: Observatory
YORK
SE5952SE MUSEUM GARDENS
1112-1/12/776 Observatory
02/11/72
GV II
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).
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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