Kew Observatory is a Grade I listed building in the Richmond upon Thames local planning authority area, England. First listed on 10 January 1950. A Built 1768-1769 Observatory.

Kew Observatory

WRENN ID
silent-span-heath
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
Richmond upon Thames
Country
England
Date first listed
10 January 1950
Type
Observatory
Source
Historic England listing

Description

  1. 5028 OLD DEER PARK

Kew Observatory TQ 1775 8/1 10.1.50

I

  1. Designed by Sir William Chambers. Built 1768-9 when Dr Stephen Demainbray, a tutor to the royal family, persuaded George III to take an interest in a transit of Venus. Chambers conceived the design in terms of a small villa with canted bays on the north and south fronts creating a pair of conjoined octagonal rooms on one axis. Apart from the raising of the side roofs to the level of the observing chamber sometime after 1884 the building remains unaltered. Three storeys, including basement. Stuccoed. Five windows wide; staircase either side of first floor entrance. Basement rusticated. Cornices above first and second floors. Balustraded parapet. Square headed, moulded windows, some pedimented. Dome to roof, carrying observatory equipment. Interior not seen. (See - John Harris, Sir William Chambers. 1968. Zwemmer.)

Listing NGR: TQ1715975781

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