Observatory
OBSERVATORY
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1201700
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jan-1973
- List Entry Name:
- Observatory
- Statutory Address:
- OBSERVATORY
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2000-10-04
- Reference:
- IOE01/02814/06
- Rights:
- © Ms Pamela Jackson. Source: Historic England Archive
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1201700
- Date first listed:
- 23-Jan-1973
- List Entry Name:
- Observatory
- Statutory Address 1:
- 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:
- OBSERVATORY
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Oldham (Metropolitan Authority)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- SD 93111 03961
Details
OLDHAM
SD90SW ALEXANDRA PARK
780-1/3/4
Observatory
23/01/73
II
Observatory in form of pagoda. 1899. Stone, with polished
granite plinth and slate and leaded roof. Square in plan with
double pagoda roof. Single room plan, raised up steps. Central
entrance and flanking windows, all with wrought-iron screens.
Segmental arch to door, curved angle moulding to windows.
Three low openings above string course above. Similar rhythm
repeated in other elevations, but with wide central blind
window space. Angle piers with foliate capitals in upper
section carry heavily coved overhanging roof. First tier of
roof has scrolled wrought-iron finials at angles, and
segmental blind dormers with scrolled wood decorative
panelling. Enriched timber screen above carries upper tier of
roof which is leaded and ogivally-arched with wood finials at
angles. Small onion dome above surmounted by weather vane.
Inscriptions in polished granite in return walls of base
record that the observatory was erected in commemoration of
the jubilee of the incorporation of the Borough, 1849-1899,
and list the names of members of the Sanitary Committee of the
Borough.
Listing NGR: SD9311103961
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 388865
- 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 17-Jun-2026 at 01:47:27.
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.