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 was the second Astronomer Royal, although his famous prediction was made fifteen years before he took up the post. It is not clear why the illustration from the Bayeux Tapestry was used as inspiration, although its shape is ideal for catching the wind and echoes that of the weathervanes of the Royal Naval College down the hill.

One of the Royal Observatory buildings is decorated with terracotta tiles and sculptures. Astronomia, a figure representing Astronomy particularly caught my eye.

The terracotta tiles and decorative sculpture are the work of Doulton & Co, of Lambeth. An art nouveau-inspired figure of Astronomia on the northwest side at the bottom of the old staircase is signed `WJ Neatby 1895′. The names of 24 important figures in English, and more particularly, Greenwich astronomy are displayed above the first floor windows. The seven previous Astronomers Royal – Flamsteed, Halley, Bradley, Bliss, Maskelyne, Pond and Airy take pole position with Newton at the cardinal and ordinal points. A cast of instrument makers, clockmakers and others of influential astronomers take up the rest – Wren, Horrox, Adams, Herschel, Sheepshanks, Baily, Simms, Troughton, Ramsden, Bird, Sharp, Graham, Dollond, Earnshaw, Arnold and Harrison.

Each of the windows on the ground floor (except those on the ends of the wings), has a Tudor Rose above them. These are of three slightly different designs, corresponding to the three phases in which the wings were built. At the upper levels, the ends of each wing are highly ornate. A bust of Flamsteed sculpted by J Raymond Smith is mounted above the front door on the north wing. The end of the south wing has a tribute to Queen Victoria. The end of the east wing commemorates the Royal Society and the west wing the Royal Astronomical society.

The Royal Observatory in Greenwich is the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and the Prime Meridian of the world.

What is a meridian?

A meridian is a north-south line selected as the zero reference line for astronomical observations. By comparing thousands of observations taken from the same meridian it is possible to build up an accurate map of the sky.

Hemispheres

The line in Greenwich represents the Prime Meridian of the World – Longitude 0º. Every place on Earth is measured in terms of its distance east or west from this line. The line itself divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth – just as the Equator divides the northern and southern hemispheres.

Where is the meridian?

In 1884 the Prime Meridian was defined by the position of the large ‘Transit Circle’ telescope in the Observatory’s Meridian Observatory. The transit circle was built by Sir George Biddell Airy, the 7th Astronomer Royal, in 1850. The cross-hairs in the eyepiece of the Transit Circle precisely defined Longitude 0° for the world. As the earth’s crust is moving very slightly all the time the exact position of the Prime Meridian is now moving very slightly too, but the original reference for the prime meridian of the world remains the Airy Transit Circle in the Royal Observatory, even if the exact location of the line may move to either side of Airy’s meridian.

There was a bit of a kerfuffle as we entered the breakfast room. The man in front of us was insisting his room was booked off on the breakfast sheet. When we were seated a man came and sat next to us and when asked his room number he used the same room number as the man who was insisting that he was ticked off on the list as we were entering. I got the impression that the man (who sat next to us) may have been freeloading…  Some of the breakfast items were in short supply, the bread and the mixed berry bowl were almost empty when we arrived and had not been refilled by the time we left. The toast did not arrive again and had to be re-ordered!

After breakfast we headed off to see the poppies in the moat at Tower Bridge. This is an art installation in progress entitled ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’. The first poppy was planted on 4th August and the last poppy will be planted on the 11th November.

marking one hundred years since the first full day of Britain’s involvement in the First World War. Created by ceramic artist Paul Cummins, with setting by stage designer Tom Piper, 888,246 ceramic poppies will progressively fill the Tower’s famous moat over the summer. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war.

Although not yet complete the artwork is stunning! I hope to return a few days before the last poppy is planted.

After we had enjoyed the moat we headed off for the Royal Observatory. When we arrived we found it was rather chaotic with no clear ticket booking system.  The confusion was added to by a temporary Steam-punk art exhibition in among some of the more permanent displays. It also took a while for us to figure out that the people queuing in the middle of the courtyard weren’t queuing to get in, they were queuing to be photographed by an artwork on the prime meridian!

The ticket included entry to a temporary exhibition ‘Ships, Clocks & Stars – The Quest for Longitude’. This exhibition was excellent and being familiar with the history of the quest for longitude it was fascinating to see the instruments and replicas that were involved.

After such a hectic day it was good to be able to put my feet up and relax in the hotel before catching a taxi to Kitchen W8 for our evening meal. When we openened the door to our room (at 5.30pm) we were rather surprised to find the curtains closed, the bedside lights on and a single chocolate on each pillow…

On arrival at Kitchen W8 we were offered an aperitif, perhaps we would like champagne? A perfect option to celebrate the birthday of a gentleman reaching a certain age. The food was delicious, the waiter attentive and always asking before pouring more wine. A perfect end to our stay in London.

Maybe next time I will get to see it from the inside

We had hoped to  visit the Queen’s House afterwards but we ran out of time due to parking restrictions in the car park we had chosen.  I am sure we will be back soon to see all the things we missed.