ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE

ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE, GREENWICH PARK SE10

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

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1358976
Date first listed:: 08-Jun-1973
List Entry Name:: ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE
Statutory Address:: ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE, GREENWICH PARK SE10

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Date:: 2004-02-09
Reference:: IOE01/11184/23
Rights:: © Mr Richard M. Brown. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1358976
Date first listed:: 08-Jun-1973
List Entry Name:: ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE
Statutory Address 1:: ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE, GREENWICH PARK SE10

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:: ROYAL OBSERVATORY FLAMSTEED HOUSE, GREENWICH PARK SE10

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

County:: Greater London Authority
District:: Greenwich (London Borough)
Parish:: Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:: TQ 38847 77335

Details

1. 4412 GREENWICH PARK SE10

Royal Observatory Flamsteed House TQ 3877 26/G54

I

2. 1675-6 with later additions, attributed to Sir Christopher Wren. Main North front of 2 storeys. 3 window centre with square 3-storey angle towers. Projecting eaves cornices and domed caps with high vanes to towers. Red brick with white stone quoins, both to towers and to main building. Very tall 1st floor with projecting cornice and balustrade over between towers. Very long plain central window in chamfered stone architrave. Wrought iron balcony. Side windows in moulded, shouldered architraves. Stone string at 1st floor level. 7-window ground floor. Parapet with stone coping has scrolled ramped inner part sweeping up almost to cornice of main block. Moulded architraves to ground floor windows. Door at left opening to walled terrace blocked at either end by 2-storey, 1-window C18 pavilions in similar style with domes. Rear elevation a large canted bay with coved and moulded cornice and balustraded parapet. 1st floor only visible as 1-storey C19 brick extension masks ground floor. Entrance on East, in angle at right, has porch protection with roof sloping up to front parapet. Side and rear windows very long casements in shouldered, moulded stone architraves. Beneath East window a plaque in richly carved baroque stone frame with serpentine open pediment, bears Latin inscription stating that Charles II founded the observatory in 1676. Inside a staircase with barley-sugar twist columns leads to the octagon room containing historic portraits, telescopes and clocks. Coved, octagonal ceiling centre wth decorative border. Moulded and coved cornice with garlands in high relief and royal ciphers. A later staircase leads down to the rear extension now laid out as a museum of historic astronomical instruments.

Listing NGR: TQ3888877321

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:: 200387
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

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.