Observatory
OBSERVATORY, POTTERS BANK
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1322869
- Date first listed:
- 10-Mar-1988
- List Entry Name:
- Observatory
- Statutory Address:
- OBSERVATORY, POTTERS BANK
Have you got a photo to share?
Join the Missing Pieces Project. We want you to share your photos and memories.
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:
- 2001-04-28
- Reference:
- IOE01/03767/31
- Rights:
- © Mr Bob Cottrell. 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:
- 1322869
- Date first listed:
- 10-Mar-1988
- List Entry Name:
- Observatory
- Statutory Address 1:
- OBSERVATORY, POTTERS BANK
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, POTTERS BANK
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- County Durham (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- City of Durham
- National Grid Reference:
- NZ 26729 41560
Details
DURHAM AND FRAMWELLGATE POTTERS BANK NZ 24 SE (North side, off)
4/372 Observatory
GV II
Observatory. 1839-40 by Anthony Salvin for the University. Coursed squared sandstone with ashlar plinth, quoins and dressings; roof not visible; copper- clad dome. Greek cross plan with full-width one-storey north and south extensions. 2-storey, 3-bay central range and one-storey 3-bay front and rear ranges. Projecting central bay has 6-panelled door and overlight flanked by long, narrow sashes; sashes either side under eaves band and coped parapet with corner pilasters.
Upper floor has 4 pediments flanking central dome; central bay projects under wood pediment and contains a sash window; side bays have glazed doors opening onto roof of ground-floor extension. All sashes have glazing bars under flat stone lintels and projecting stone sills. Prominent gutter cornice continuous with pediments.
Interior shows beaded tongue-and-groove boarded lining to upper floor; stair with turned newels, square rods and round handrail ramped at one point. Dome has boarded lining and rests on rack-and-pinion gear.
Listing NGR: NZ2672941560
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 110427
- 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 24-Jun-2026 at 17:23:34.
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.