Monument record 14906 - Site of Observatory, North of Norcliffe Hall

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1934-39, Ordnance Survey Third Revision County Series (Epoch 4) 25 inch to 1 mile - Lancashire (Maps and Plans). SCH8663.

An observatory is depicted on Ordnance Survey Fourth Edition mapping (1935-1939), circa 250m to the north of Norcliffe Hall, at SJ 82952 83729. It is sub-rectangular in shape and orientated east-west, with the eastern side curved outwards forming an apse. It is formed by a central structure, with an outer wall or boundary with maximum dimensions of circa 9.8m by 7.2m.

<2> GeoInformation Group, 1945-1948, 1945-1948 RAF National Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH8190.

The site of the observatory is visible on RAF air photographs dating to 1945-1949. It is located just to the south of the depiction on the OS Fourth Edition map, at SJ 82954 83722. Its former perimeter is defined by trees/shrubs, although the observatory itself appears to have been dismantled.

<3> Huntings Surveys Ltd, 1971-1973, 1971-1973 County Survey (Aerial Photograph). SCH4881.

The site is no longer visible on air photography dating to 1971-1973.

<4> Peter Wade, 2010-2011, In Search of Lancaster's Lost Observatory, Vol 33, p.55-59 (Article in Journal). SCH8667.

Article discussing the North West cotton empire of Samuel Greg, the centre of which was Quarry Bank Mill, Styal; also the family's keen interest in astronomy. Samuel Greg, the owner of Norcliffe Hall, also owned Quarry Bank Mill. The Gregs were linked by marriage to the Hodgson family, who owned Low Mill in Caton, Lancashire. John Greg, Samuel's son, was placed at Low Mill as manager. John shared Samuel's interest in astronomy and installed a purpose built observatory in the grounds of Escowbeck House. After John's death in 1882, his son, Albert, gifted the telescope to The Lancaster Corporation, and in 1892, the Greg Observatory was opened in Williamson Park, Lancaster, for use by the public. The observatory was closed in 1944 and fell into decay. In around 1960 the remains of the observatory dismantled, leaving only the foundations. The article includes a plan of the Greg Observatory and, like the observatory north of Norcliffe Hall, it had an apsidal end, labelled the 'Viewing Room'.

<5> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Jane Monk, 19/03/2019 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

An observatory is also depicted on OS historic mapping just to the north of Quarry Bank House (see CHER 14907), only 750m to the south-east of the Norcliffe Hall example. It is depicted as a single-walled structure, measuring some 6.5m by 3.2m. There are striking similarities between the observatories at Norcliffe Hall and Quarry Bank, in terms of size, shape and orientation; the main difference being that the Norcliffe Hall example has an additional outer wall/boundary depicted, giving it maximum dimensions of 9.8m by 7.2m. Additionally, it is curious that the Quarry Bank Mill example is only depicted on mapping up until the OS third edition map (1909-1912), and that the Norcliffe Hall example appears on the OS fourth edition map (1934-1939), but not before. Given the similarities in depiction of both observatories, along with the fact that both Quarry Bank Mill and Norcliffe Hall were both owned by the Greg family, it could be that the observatory at Quarry Bank was dismantled and moved to the site north of Norcliffe Hall in the period between the OS third and fourth edition maps.