Observatory

The Observatory, built in 1899, is designed in the form of a pagoda and is located in Oldham's Alexandra Park. It is constructed of stone, featuring a polished granite plinth and a roof made of slate and lead. The building has a square plan with a double pagoda roof and consists of a single room that is accessed by steps.

The central entrance is flanked by windows, all of which are adorned with wrought-iron screens. The door features a segmental arch, while the windows have curved angle mouldings. Above a string course, there are three low openings, and a similar design is repeated on the other elevations, although one side has a wide central blind window space.

The angle piers, which have foliate capitals in the upper section, support a heavily coved overhanging roof. The first tier of the roof is decorated with scrolled wrought-iron finials at the corners and segmental blind dormers that feature scrolled wood decorative panelling. An enriched timber screen above supports the upper tier of the roof, which is leaded and ogivally-arched, also with wood finials at the corners. At the top, there is a small onion dome that is surmounted by a weather vane.

Inscriptions in polished granite on the return walls of the base commemorate the observatory's construction in honor of the jubilee of the incorporation of the Borough from 1849 to 1899 and list the names of members of the Sanitary Committee of the Borough.