Kew Observatory
| The King's Observatory | |
|---|---|
| Kew Observatory | |
| Location | Old Deer Park |
| Nearest city | Richmond, London |
| Coordinates | 51°28′08″N 0°18′53″W / 51.4689°N 0.3147°WCoordinates: 51°28′08″N 0°18′53″W / 51.4689°N 0.3147°W |
| Built | 1769 |
| Built for | George III of the United Kingdom |
| Original use | Astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatory |
| Current use | Private dwelling |
| Architect | Sir William Chambers |
| Owner | Crown Estate |
| Website | www |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Kew Observatory | |
| Designated | 10 January 1950 |
| Reference no. | 1357729 |
The King's Observatory (called for many years the Kew Observatory) is a Grade I listed building in Richmond, London. Now a private dwelling, it formerly housed an astronomical and terrestrial magnetic observatory founded by King George III. The architect was Sir William Chambers; his design of the King's Observatory influenced the architecture of two Irish observatories – Armagh Observatory and Dunsink Observatory near Dublin.
The observatory is located within the Old Deer Park of the former Richmond Palace in Richmond, historically in Surrey and now in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. The former royal manor of Kew lies to the immediate north. The observatory grounds overlie to the south the site of the former Sheen Priory, the Carthusian monastery established by King Henry V in 1414.
Directors (superintendents) of the observatory included Stephen Demainbray, Francis Ronalds, John Welsh, Balfour Stewart, Francis John Welsh Whipple, Charles Chree, and George Clarke Simpson.
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