We had originally visited to look at the lighthouse on site but were gifted a chance to get inside this lovely place as we sat outside for what seemed like ages watching a bloke in a campervan moving stuff into the place and a fair few other people wandering in and out and we were absolutely thrilled when the guy offloading just said "alright fellas" as we walked straight past him and up the stairs, turns out that the secca company is moving people into the place as the bloke told us on our way out (security by occupation apparently), but the deed was already done.
This Complex has seen some events over the last 12 months with the Murder of a teenage girl here and then the total demolition of the Modern Proudman instiutute building that was only built in 2006.
some history from Bidstonlighthouse.org
The Observatory was built in 1866, when the expansion of Waterloo Dock forced Liverpool Observatory to re-locate to Bidston Hill. It was built alongside Bidston Lighthouse and Signals Station, on land owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. John Hartnup, astronomer and Assistant Secretary to the Royal Astronomical Society, had been the Director of Liverpool Observatory since it was built in 1843. Amongst his achievements was the calculation of the longitude of Liverpool, which was important for navigation and the development of the port. He presided over the move to Bidston Hill, and continued as director of Bidston Observatory until his retirement in 1885, when he was succeeded by his son. The second director, John Hartnup Jr died on 21 April 1892, when he fell from the roof of the Observatory while making meteorological observations.
Over the years, the emphasis of the Observatory’s work shifted from astronomy to other things, but always in the tradition of Time and Tide, so important to the port of Liverpool.
This is what the building looked like way back when, see the original weather gubbins on the roof
Of Time. The progression from observations of the stars, to the determination of longitude, to the calibration of chronometers was a natural one. The Observatory’s two levels of cellars and other features made it especially suited for calibrating chronometers under controlled conditions of temperature and seismic vibrations. Mariners sent their chronometers from all over the empire for calibration at Bidston. The One-O-Clock gun at Morpeth Dock was signalled from Bidston Observatory, at first visually, and later by electric cable.
Of Tide. Ever since Liverpool’s harbour-master William Hutchinson (the same fellow who pioneered the use of parabolic reflectors in lighthouses on Bidston Hill) took the first extended series of tidal measurements over a period of some thirty years, Liverpool had led the world in tidal studies. This work became centred at Bidston Observatory when the Liverpool Tidal Institute was set up there under Joseph Proudman’s direction after World War I. Arthur Doodson’s work with mechanical computers for tide prediction happened here. One of his machines was used to predict the tides for the D-Day landings.
In 1969, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) took over responsibility for the Observatory. Oceanographic research continued to expand under their auspices. During the 1970′s, the Joseph Proudman Building was constructed in the former kitchen gardens of Bidston Lighthouse.
In 1989, the Observatory, Lighthouse and the perimeter wall enclosing them became Grade-II listed buildings.
In 2004, the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory moved from Bidston Hill to a new building at the University of Liverpool. Their oceanographic research is still continuing today, but now in the guise of the National Oceanography Centre. NERC’s plans to sell the site to a developer aroused opposition from local pressure groups such as the Bidston Preservation Trust, and the spectre of an eleven-story high-rise residential development was averted.
So the top priorty was to get up and see the old weather station Gubbins and here it is, sat upon the old cabin type building
Inside the cabin
One of those twirly weather things extends right down into the cabin and operated a drum type recorder
The view was quite something from up there, anyone who has ever been to the wirral will know that this is the highest point to be seen.
These are the domes that were once equipped with telescopes and other techy stuff and they would open and rotate too..
The lighthouse seen here has a clear view right accross liverpool bay and out into the Irish sea, it was in servive from 1771 and decomissioned in 1913 when a replacement was built nearer to the river
.
Unfortunately my images from inside the domes were blown out because wherever you turned you were shooting into the light so I have rescued them but they look a bit processed, but they gives a good idea of construction.
Inside the domes, it becomes clear that they are wooden construction and various pulleys and wheels are situated about to manouvre the domes when in use.
The shelving unit in the dome was labelled with all sorts of tidal locations for data to be stored and then cholated.
Nice stairs
A model of the site in the hallway
needed in liverpool
No caravans
Thanks for looking
This Complex has seen some events over the last 12 months with the Murder of a teenage girl here and then the total demolition of the Modern Proudman instiutute building that was only built in 2006.
some history from Bidstonlighthouse.org
The Observatory was built in 1866, when the expansion of Waterloo Dock forced Liverpool Observatory to re-locate to Bidston Hill. It was built alongside Bidston Lighthouse and Signals Station, on land owned by the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. John Hartnup, astronomer and Assistant Secretary to the Royal Astronomical Society, had been the Director of Liverpool Observatory since it was built in 1843. Amongst his achievements was the calculation of the longitude of Liverpool, which was important for navigation and the development of the port. He presided over the move to Bidston Hill, and continued as director of Bidston Observatory until his retirement in 1885, when he was succeeded by his son. The second director, John Hartnup Jr died on 21 April 1892, when he fell from the roof of the Observatory while making meteorological observations.
Over the years, the emphasis of the Observatory’s work shifted from astronomy to other things, but always in the tradition of Time and Tide, so important to the port of Liverpool.
This is what the building looked like way back when, see the original weather gubbins on the roof
Of Time. The progression from observations of the stars, to the determination of longitude, to the calibration of chronometers was a natural one. The Observatory’s two levels of cellars and other features made it especially suited for calibrating chronometers under controlled conditions of temperature and seismic vibrations. Mariners sent their chronometers from all over the empire for calibration at Bidston. The One-O-Clock gun at Morpeth Dock was signalled from Bidston Observatory, at first visually, and later by electric cable.
Of Tide. Ever since Liverpool’s harbour-master William Hutchinson (the same fellow who pioneered the use of parabolic reflectors in lighthouses on Bidston Hill) took the first extended series of tidal measurements over a period of some thirty years, Liverpool had led the world in tidal studies. This work became centred at Bidston Observatory when the Liverpool Tidal Institute was set up there under Joseph Proudman’s direction after World War I. Arthur Doodson’s work with mechanical computers for tide prediction happened here. One of his machines was used to predict the tides for the D-Day landings.
In 1969, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) took over responsibility for the Observatory. Oceanographic research continued to expand under their auspices. During the 1970′s, the Joseph Proudman Building was constructed in the former kitchen gardens of Bidston Lighthouse.
In 1989, the Observatory, Lighthouse and the perimeter wall enclosing them became Grade-II listed buildings.
In 2004, the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory moved from Bidston Hill to a new building at the University of Liverpool. Their oceanographic research is still continuing today, but now in the guise of the National Oceanography Centre. NERC’s plans to sell the site to a developer aroused opposition from local pressure groups such as the Bidston Preservation Trust, and the spectre of an eleven-story high-rise residential development was averted.
So the top priorty was to get up and see the old weather station Gubbins and here it is, sat upon the old cabin type building
Inside the cabin
One of those twirly weather things extends right down into the cabin and operated a drum type recorder
The view was quite something from up there, anyone who has ever been to the wirral will know that this is the highest point to be seen.
These are the domes that were once equipped with telescopes and other techy stuff and they would open and rotate too..
The lighthouse seen here has a clear view right accross liverpool bay and out into the Irish sea, it was in servive from 1771 and decomissioned in 1913 when a replacement was built nearer to the river
.
Unfortunately my images from inside the domes were blown out because wherever you turned you were shooting into the light so I have rescued them but they look a bit processed, but they gives a good idea of construction.
Inside the domes, it becomes clear that they are wooden construction and various pulleys and wheels are situated about to manouvre the domes when in use.
The shelving unit in the dome was labelled with all sorts of tidal locations for data to be stored and then cholated.
Nice stairs
A model of the site in the hallway
needed in liverpool
No caravans
Thanks for looking
Last edited:
