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Latitude: 55.0652 / 55°3'54"N
Longitude: -3.6145 / 3°36'52"W
OS Eastings: 296987
OS Northings: 575713
OS Grid: NX969757
Mapcode National: GBR 396W.82
Mapcode Global: WH5WJ.GY0B
Plus Code: 9C7R398P+35
Entry Name: Burgh Museum And Observatory, Church Street, Dumfries
Listing Name: Church Street, Dumfries Museum Observatory
Listing Date: 11 July 1961
Category: A
Source: Historic Scotland
Source ID: 362644
Historic Scotland Designation Reference: LB26135
Building Class: Cultural
ID on this website: 200362644
Location: Dumfries
County: Dumfries and Galloway
Town: Dumfries
Electoral Ward: North West Dumfries
Traditional County: Kirkcudbrightshire
Tagged with: Architectural structure Museum building
Walter Newall, 1835-6, remodelling (?late) 18th century
windmill to form observatory, camera obscura installed
1836. Modern museum extension to S. Greek revival
aedicules with ramped architraves; 3 storeys below
bracketted deep parapet. Whitewashed; original battered
tower rubble-built with some roughly droved dressings;
Newall's alterations all ashlar. Small-paned sash windows,
some with iron bars. Door at N approached by steps with
coped monolithic parapets with corniced, battered piers;
3rd floor openings with boldly bracketted balconies.
Concealed roof, camera obscura viewer above.
Establishment of Observatory timed to coincide with arrival
of Halley's comet; opened 1.8.1836. Unexecuted scheme by Ady
of Edinburgh, 1835, for conversion to observatory held at
Museum. Windmill was in existence by 1796 - mentioned in
Grierson Diaries 28th Sept. 1796 (originals in Dumfries
museum; copies in Ewart Library).
External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.
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