Radcliffe Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Oxford, England
The Radcliffe Observatory features an octagonal tower with a statue of Atlas holding the world, designed according to the Tower of Winds in Athens.
Thomas Hornsby initiated the observatory construction after observing Venus transit in 1769 from the nearby Radcliffe Infirmary, leading to its completion in 1794.
The building belongs to Green Templeton College and represents a Grade I listed structure with neoclassical architecture and decorative zodiac stone plaques.
The observatory maintains the longest uninterrupted daily weather record in the United Kingdom, dating back to the American Revolutionary War period.
The facility relocated to Pretoria, South Africa in 1939 due to Oxford's unfavorable weather conditions and increasing light pollution.
Location: Oxford
Inception: 1794
Architects: Henry Keene
Architectural style: Neoclassical architecture
GPS coordinates: 51.76080,-1.26390
Latest update: May 11, 2025 10:22
Radcliffe Infirmary
158 m
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307 mReviews
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