Observatory is a Grade II listed building in the County Durham local planning authority area, England. First listed on 10 March 1988. Observatory. 2 related planning applications.
Observatory
- WRENN ID
- worn-stone-curlew
- Grade
- II
- Local Planning Authority
- County Durham
- Constituency
- City of Durham MP: Mary Kelly Foy (Lab)
- Country
- England
- Date first listed
- 10 March 1988
- Type
- Observatory
- Address
- Observatory, Potters Bank, City of Durham, DH1 3RR
- OS grid reference
- NZ 267 415
- Coordinates
- 54.76827, -1.58609
- Source
- Historic England listing
Description
The Observatory, built in 1839-40 by Anthony Salvin for the University, stands slightly away from Potters Bank in Durham. It is constructed of coursed squared sandstone with an ashlar plinth, quoins and dressings. The roof is hidden, but has a copper-clad dome. The building has a Greek cross plan with single-story extensions across the north and south sides.
The central range is two stories high with three bays, while the front and rear ranges are single-story and also have three bays. In the projecting central bay is a six-panelled door and overlight, flanked by long, narrow sash windows. Additional sash windows are located under the eaves. The upper floor features four pediments and a central bay that projects under a wooden pediment, containing a sash window. Glazed doors on either side open onto the roof of the ground-floor extension. All sash windows have glazing bars, flat stone lintels and projecting stone sills. A prominent gutter cornice runs continuously with the pediments.
Inside, the upper floor is lined with beaded tongue-and-groove boarding. A staircase features turned newels, square rods and a round handrail with a ramped section. The dome is boarded and supported by a rack-and-pinion gear system.
Local climate
Observatory receives an average of 790 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 58% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 96% of listed buildings.
It experiences an average of 41 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 79% of listed buildings. Of these, 24 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.
Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.
More on this building
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- Full EPC report — heating system, energy costs, size, glazing, construction etc.
- Sale history — 4 transactions since 1999
- Related listed building consents — 2 applications
- Detailed attributes — period, style, materials, features
- Flood risk assessment
- Radon risk assessment
- Weather exposure and heating demand — rain and frost month by month and year by year, wind direction, solar and humidity
Matched applications, energy data and sale records are assembled automatically and may contain errors. Flag incorrect data.
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