Museum Project Trip to the Radcliffe Observatory

Our Museum Project group had a fascinating visit on Tuesday to the Radcliffe Observatory.

When they arrived, they were given a historic tour of the site by Michael Pirie, a fellow of Green Templeton College, historian and gardener. The tour included visiting the Radcliffe Infirmary, and exploring a range of old maps and photographs, indicating how the area had changed since the Radcliffe Observatory was built in 1773. 

Michael explained amongst many other things how the globe at the top of the Radcliffe Observatory features two mythological characters, made of lead, Atlas and Hercules. According to Greek mythology, Hercules held the world while Atlas took golden apples from the garden of the Hesperides, but then decided he didn’t want his old burden again; Hercules eventually tricked him into taking it back! 

We saw the room where the main telescope, attached to a large quadrant, was used daily, and how there was a corridor to the warden’s house, so it was easy to observe and then return home. 

After the tour, we were taken into the Observatory itself to meet Sir Michael Dixon, Head of the College, to hear more about the use of the building, before having delicious cookies in the Radcliffe Observatory itself! 

The visit forms part of a year long project exploring the Radcliffe Observatory, involving students selecting their own research projects and presenting them at the Radcliffe Observatory itself later in the year. We are very grateful to everyone at Green Templeton College for making us so welcome.