History in Structure

Burgh Museum And Observatory, Church Street, Dumfries

A Category A Listed Building in Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway

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Coordinates

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

Also known as: Dumfries, Church Street, Burgh Museum And Observatory

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

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Description

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.

Statement of Interest

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

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