KEW OBSERVATORY

KEW OBSERVATORY, OLD DEER PARK

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1357729
Date first listed:: 10-Jan-1950
List Entry Name:: KEW OBSERVATORY
Statutory Address:: KEW OBSERVATORY, OLD DEER PARK

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Date:: 2000-07-30
Reference:: IOE01/01495/09
Rights:: © Mr Paul F. Smith. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1357729
Date first listed:: 10-Jan-1950
List Entry Name:: KEW OBSERVATORY
Statutory Address 1:: KEW OBSERVATORY, OLD DEER PARK

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

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.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: KEW OBSERVATORY, OLD DEER PARK

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Richmond upon Thames (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 17159 75781

Details

1. 5028 OLD DEER PARK

Kew Observatory TQ 1775 8/1 10.1.50

I

2. 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

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 205571
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Harris, J, Sir William Chambers Knight of the Polar Star, (1970)
Other
Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England, Part 17 Greater London

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.