Royal Observatory Greenwich Drawings and Paintings : The Royal Observatory, showing the Sheepshanks (centre) and Great Equatorial (right) Domes

Royal Observatory Greenwich Drawings and Paintings

<p style='text-align: justify;'>Watercolour illustration by Christabel Airy; dated and signed with her initials. This view of the Observatory buildings is the latest of the Christabel Airy paintings in the RGO Archives. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'> To the bottom centre left is the bay window on the southern side of the Computing Room (a rare view of this feature). Behind this, before the small gateway, is the Transit Room. To the right is the Meridian Garden, laid to lawn and with ornate flowerbeds. Behind the lawn to the left, the gateway leads from the garden to the South East or 'Great Equatorial' Dome. Another painting by Christabel Airy dated 1863, shows a closer view from this garden of the gateway and dome <a href='/view/'> (RGO 116/5/7)</a>. The South East Dome, finished in 1857, housed the Great Equatorial Telescope [<a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/10181.html'><img title="Link to RMG" alt='RMG icon' class='nmm_icon' src='/images/general/nmm_small.png'/></a>]. Behind this, the roof of Sheepshanks Dome can be seen.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>For a brief history of the Meridian Garden, see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://www.royalobservatorygreenwich.org/articles.php?article=970'>http://www.royalobservatorygreenwich.org/articles.php?article=970</a>. For the Great Equatorial Building, see <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://www.royalobservatorygreenwich.org/articles.php?article=919'>http://www.royalobservatorygreenwich.org/articles.php?article=919</a>.</p>