Royal Observatory South Building

TQ 3877 GREENWICH PARK

786-/26/10034 Royal Observatory South Building

GV II

Former New Physical Observatory to the Royal Greenwich Observatory, now offices and planetarium. 1892-99 by William Crisp in close collaboration with W H M Christie, Astronomer Royal. Banded brick and Doulton terracotta, slate roof rising to central flat area with decorative iron railings. Cruciform plan of two storeys and attics on steeply sloping site with central copper dome built to house the Lassell Dome telescope. Central core presents single-bay canted front to each side, from which project two-bay wings terminating in paired stacks. Germano-Italianate Renaissance style, the ground floor with Gibbsian surrounds and keystones to wooden casement windows, the first floors over heavy sill bands with de Vriesian pilasters, mullions and transoms. Aediculed dormers with pediments. North side of centrepiece has a double-height composition of mullions and transoms with decorated panels between and below. Principal entrance on first floor at end of eastern arm, reached up six steps, with double door under round headed opening and flanked by pilasters. Balcony over with pedimented dormer behind. Many decorative plaques and shields devised by Doultons for the building. Over each first floor window is a plaque to an important British scientist or astromer, with Newton reserved for the centre and Flamsteed, Bradley, Maskelyne and Airy on the ends of the wings - these last deemed the positions of greatest honour. Bust of John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, by J Raymond Smith, c.1898-9. The South Building was constructed to house the Lassell Dome telescope and to house the Royal Observatory's pioneering work in astronomical photography. It later housed the two 'Thompson equatorial' telescopes. The vigorous display of terracotta work is demonstrative of that material at its best.

Listing NGR: TQ3895177215