The Observatory
THE OBSERVATORY
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1154280
- Date first listed:
- 31-Dec-1969
- List Entry Name:
- The Observatory
- Statutory Address:
- THE OBSERVATORY
Location
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1154280
- Date first listed:
- 31-Dec-1969
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 01-Sept-1988
- List Entry Name:
- The Observatory
- Statutory Address 1:
- THE OBSERVATORY
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- THE OBSERVATORY
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Northumberland (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Longhoughton
- National Grid Reference:
- NU 22435 14577
Details
NU 21 SW LONGHOUGHTON RATCHEUGH
7/157 The Observatory 31.12.69 (formerly listed as The Observatory on Ratcheugh Crag)
I
Gazebo and eyecatcher. Late C18 by Robert Adam for the Duke of Northumberland; additions c.1850. Rough-faced stone with ashlar dressings; towers have flat roofs (not seen) except for Welsh slates on pent-roofed part of south tower. Screen wall with towers and turrets on crest of whinstone escarpment, commanding views west over Alnwick and east towards the sea. Castellated Gothick style.
West elevation: Chamfered plinth. Main tower near left end has open base with segmental hollow-chamfered arch flanked by semi-octagonal buttresses with pyramidal tops below band; at 1st-floor level three 12-pane sash windows, with intersecting heads under round arches, set in recess with corbelled top; moulded string below embattled parapet. 1st floor band continued along flanking walls with smaller round arches to taller semicircular turrets with various shaped loops. Right lower wall has large semicircular bow and square turret, with quatrefoil and cruciform loops, and joins rectangular south tower. Tower has central bow containing ground- and 1st-floor 4-centred- arched windows (boarded over) and band on corbels below irregular parapet; lower pent part to far right.
Rear elevation of main tower similar to front. Turret to left has boarded door under round arch on to newel stair, from which short wall walk leads to balcony, on left return of tower, with a central part-glazed door. South tower has quatrefoil loop to rear and boarded window openings in returns, under 4-centred or pointed arches.
Interior: Observatory in Main Tower has fluted dado rail and fan tracery cornice.
Listing NGR: NU2243514577
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 237048
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 09-Jun-2026 at 15:00:43.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.