Observatories · Central Scotland
Macfarlane Observatory
In or near Glasgow.
Macfarlane Observatory — first purpose-built observatory in Britain.
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Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–2.5 h
- Best time of year
- Moonless winter nights (Oct–Mar)
- Nearest railway station
- High Street · 0.4 km
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Macfarlane Observatory is a observatory in the United Kingdom. Records date its origin to 1757. Named after Alexander MacFarlane. Wikidata describes it as: "first purpose-built observatory in Britain". Coordinates: 55.8572°, -4.2353°.
Photo gallery
From the Wikipedia article
The Macfarlane Observatory was established at the University of Glasgow in 1757. It was the first purpose-built university observatory in Britain.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The Observatory was named after Alexander MacFarlane, a slaveholding Scottish merchant and astronomer who resided in Kingston, Jamaica and bequeathed his astronomical instruments to the University of Glasgow after his death in October 1755. Macfarlane graduated with an MA from the university in 1728. He emigrated to Jamaica in 1735. He later became assistant judge and member of the Legislative Assembly of Jamaica. Macfarlane purchased the astronomical instruments of Colin Campbell after 1742. The foundation stone for the observatory was laid in 1757. It was located between Gallowgate and Duke Street. An observatory represented a place of certitude of time and place, a place to set a marine…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 55.8572, -4.2353
- District
- Glasgow City
- Postcode
- G4 0SP
- Parliamentary constituency
- Glasgow East
- Established
- 1757
- Nearest railway station
- High Street — 0.4 km
- Official site
- barrowland-ballroom.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q6723274 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Macfarlane Observatory (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Lodging House Mission, 29 East Campbell Street, Glasgow
Historic churches · 0.2 km
Wallace of Campsie House
Hostels · 0.2 km
374-378 Gallowgate
Historic pubs · 0.2 km
Barrowland Ballroom
Theatres · 0.2 km
Alexander's School
Gardens · 0.3 km
The Tree that Never Grew by Jennifer Grant
Public art & sculpture · 0.3 km
Calton New Parish Church, Bain Square, Glasgow
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Saint Luke's
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Grpahic Deisgn Gallery
Galleries · 0.3 km
The Barras Market
Natural landmarks · 0.3 km
CROSSBILL
Distilleries · 0.3 km
Crossbill Distillery
Distilleries · 0.3 km
Nearby
📷 5Historic churches · Central Scotland
Lodging House Mission, 29 East Campbell Street, Glasgow
Lodging House Mission, 29 East Campbell Street, Glasgow — category B listed building-listed church in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Hostels · Central Scotland
Wallace of Campsie House
Wallace of Campsie House — a hostel in scotland central.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
374-378 Gallowgate
374-378 Gallowgate in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 3Theatres · Central Scotland
Barrowland Ballroom
Barrowland Ballroom is a theatre in the United Kingdom.
📷 4Gardens · Central Scotland
Alexander's School
Alexander's School — a garden in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
📷 3Public art & sculpture · Central Scotland
The Tree that Never Grew by Jennifer Grant
The Tree that Never Grew by Jennifer Grant — a public art in scotland-central, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Macfarlane Observatory
Places to stay
📷 5Hostels · Central Scotland
Wallace of Campsie House
Wallace of Campsie House — a hostel in scotland central.
📷 5Hotels · Central Scotland
Merchant City Inn
Merchant City Inn — a hotel in scotland central.
📷 5
📷 5Hotels · Central Scotland
Ibis Styles Glasgow Centre George Square
Ibis Styles Glasgow Centre George Square — a hotel in scotland central. 3-star. Brand: Ibis Styles.
📷 5
📷 5Hotels · Central Scotland
Millennium Hotel Glasgow
Millennium Hotel Glasgow — a hotel in scotland central.
Places to eat & drink
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
374-378 Gallowgate
374-378 Gallowgate in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Public House, 9, 11, 13 Watson Street, Glasgow
Public House, 9, 11, 13 Watson Street, Glasgow in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Public House, 69 Hutcheson Street, Glasgow
Public House, 69 Hutcheson Street, Glasgow in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · Central Scotland
Bank of Scotland, 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow
Bank of Scotland, 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
27a, 29 St Vincent Place, Public House
27a, 29 St Vincent Place, Public House in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · Central Scotland
40, 41 Carlton Place
40, 41 Carlton Place in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.
Other places from this era
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Camera Obscura
Camera Obscura — Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
More places in this region
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Earthquake House, The Ross, Comrie
Earthquake House, The Ross, Comrie in Scotland Islands, United Kingdom.
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Brisbane Observatory
Brisbane Observatory — a observatory in scotland-highlands, United Kingdom.
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Airdrie Library
Airdrie Library — public library and observatory in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Macfarlane Observatory?
- Macfarlane Observatory is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode G4 0SP).
- What is Macfarlane Observatory?
- Macfarlane Observatory — first purpose-built observatory in Britain.
- How do I get to Macfarlane Observatory?
- The nearest railway station is High Street, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can use postcode G4 0SP.
- When was Macfarlane Observatory built?
- Built or established in 1757.
- How do I get to Macfarlane Observatory?
- The nearest railway station is High Street, about 0.4 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode G4 0SP.