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Bust

RO - 01 ped. - Flamsteed

Erection date: 1899

Inscription

{Below bust:}
MDCCCXCV {1895}
{Above raised ground floor window:}
Born 1646 Flam (1675 – 1719) steed Died 1719
{The brackets indicate a small cartouche between the syllables of his name. The dates given in this cartouche are the period in which Flamsteed was Astronomer Royal.}

The bust and Roman date are above the first floor window.

Site: Royal Observatory (28 memorials)

SE10, Royal Observatory, South Building

Originally called the New Physical Observatory this cruciform building was added to the Royal Observatory complex by the 8th Astronomer Royal, Sir William H. M. Christie.  Its purpose was as a storehouse or museum for all the moveable instruments, clocks and other apparatus which were not in current use, the Lassell telescope and dome in particular. Built 1891-9, architect William Crisp, it is, of course, now available for corporate events.

The name panels are above the windows on the same level, all the way around this free-standing building. The floor levels in relation to the ground are a bit odd and change as one goes round so we aren't too sure how to describe it, possibly "raised ground floor". We've listed them anti-clockwise starting at the main entrance to the building, on the north face.

The 4 ornate featured entities: the Flamsteed bust, the Royal Society coat of arms, Queen Victoria's royal standard and the Royal Astronomical Society cartouche, are each on the central high pediment of one of the 4 wings of the building.

The terracotta tiles and decorative sculpture are the work of Doulton & Co, of Lambeth. There is some sculptural work signed with  W. J. Neatby's initials but we don't think that applies to anything that we have photographed.

is a great resource concerning the building and these name panels.

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
RO - 01 ped. - Flamsteed

Subjects commemorated i

John Flamsteed

Astronomer, the first Astronomer Royal. His main achievements were the prepar...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
RO - 01 ped. - Flamsteed

Created by i

John Raymond Smith

Sculptor. The Flamsteed bust is the only work that we can find. Our colleagu...

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
RO - 01 ped. - Flamsteed

Also at this site i

RO - 03 - Graham

RO - 03 - Graham

1673 Graham 1751

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RO - 04 - Halley

RO - 04 - Halley

Born 1656 Halley Died 1742

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RO - 06 - Dolland

RO - 06 - Dolland

The date of death is in the foliage frieze, to the right, outside our photo.

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