Observatory

The Observatory, built between 1832 and 1833 and restored in 1981, is a significant structure located in York. It was designed for the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, featuring a telescope created by Thomas Cooke of York and a rotating conical roof designed by John Smeaton. The building is constructed from magnesian limestone ashlar and topped with a lead roof.

The Observatory has an octagonal shape set on a shallow plinth, with a basement and two storeys. The lower storey features a moulded cornice, while the upper storey is set back. The entrance door consists of four flush panels. On the ground floor, each alternate face has a 12-pane sash window with slender glazing bars, and the upper storey contains two-light casement windows. The openings throughout the building are chamfered.

Although the interior was not inspected, it is noted that the Observatory was built after the inaugural meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1831. The restoration in 1981 celebrated the Association's 150th anniversary. For many years, the telescope housed within was the largest refracting telescope in the world.