Random thoughts and photos of my journey through life…
Filed under Art, Holidays, London 2014
By Yinka Shonibare
Shonibare’s scale model of Nelson’s flagship, Victory, is the world’s largest ship in a bottle. The model is rigged with sails, naval ensigns and signal flags shown as they were on the day of the Battle of Trafalgar. The only significant departure from historical reality is the design of the 37 sails, which [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Sep 18th 2014
Filed under Heritage, Holidays, London 2014
The Altazimuth Pavilion is topped with an unusual weather vane.
It is modelled on Halley’s Comet, as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry. It was erected in June 1901, a few years after the building was completed but in time for the comet’s return in 1909. There is a clear link with the Observatory’s history since Halley [...]
6 Comments CherryPie on Sep 17th 2014
Filed under Holidays, London 2014
This modern structure placed alongside the old observatory buildings draws the eye. It is only on closure inspection that all is revealed…
The truncated bronze cone covering the planetarium dome. Its form and orientation reflect the local meridian and latitude.
4 Comments CherryPie on Sep 16th 2014
Filed under Holidays, Newcastle & Crookham 2013, Science & Nature
14 Comments CherryPie on Sep 14th 2014
Filed under Holidays, London 2014, Science & Nature
…The Observatory Time-Ball
The first public time signal was broadcast from the roof of Flamsteed House in 1833. The idea of dropping a ball at a predetermined time was the brainchild of Captain Wauchope, RN, and was tested at the Naval College at Portsmouth before Maudslay & Field were commissioned to install the first Greenwich time-ball [...]
8 Comments CherryPie on Sep 10th 2014
Filed under Holidays, London 2014, Science & Nature
The gnomon or pointer of the sundial is formed by the tips of two dolphins’ tails, which almost meet. The tails cast a shadow onto the dial plate, which is engraved with thick curved lines representing the hours. Thinner lines indicate 10-minute intervals between each hour.
The dial plate has curved lines rather than straight ones, [...]
10 Comments CherryPie on Sep 9th 2014
Filed under Heritage, Holidays, London 2014
Greenwich Park hosts the Prime Meridian Line and Royal Observatory as well as being part of the Greenwich Maritime World Heritage Site which is home to The National Maritime Museum and Old Royal Naval College.
The oldest enclosed Royal Park, Greenwich dates back to 1427 and offers spectacular views across the River Thames to St Paul’s [...]
19 Comments CherryPie on Sep 8th 2014
