Ratcheugh Observatory
| Ratcheugh Observatory | |
|
Northumberland | |
|---|---|
 Ratcheugh Observatory | |
| Type: | Folly |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NU22461432 |
| Location: | 55°25’20"N, 1°38’48"W |
| History | |
| Folly | |
| Information | |
Ratcheugh Observatory is a late 18th-century folly on a prominent crag between Alnwick and Longhoughton in north Northumberland. Commissioned by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, the castellated Observatory incorporates a viewing tower with prospects of Alnwick and its castle, and of the North Sea coast at Boulmer.
Location
Ratcheugh Observatory stands on Ratcheugh Crag, a local 400-foot whinstone high-point above a foreground of fields at 280 feet or lower elevations, situated two and a quarter miles east of Alnwick and a mile and a quarter west of Longhoughton; two and a half miles inland from the coast at Boulmer, in northern Northumberland.
Observatory
The Observatory, a Grade I listed building,[1] is a screen-wall built at the crag edge, incorporated into which are a number of turrets or towers; and having towards its northern extent a square-plan viewing tower built on open hollow-chamfered arches. The tower has a single enclosed room, each wall having three large round-arched windows affording commanding views to the north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west. The structure is described by Historic England as a gazebo and eye-catcher in the Castellated Gothick style, and is constructed in rough-faced stone with ashlar dressings.[1]
The Observatory was designed by (or follows a design outline of) Robert Adam, and dates from 1754–1770. It provides very fine views of Alnwick Castle, Hulne Park, Hulne Priory and other local possessions of the Duke; a 360° panorama of the local area, farmland used for fox hunting and point-to-point horse racing; and distant views of Dunstanburgh and Warkworth Castles and the Farne Islands.
It is one of a number of follies built on the skylines around Alnwick; others include the 1781 Brizlee Tower, another creation of the Duke;[2] Jenny's Lantern on the Bolton estate, and Crawley Tower on the Shawdon estate, all dating from the late 18th century.[3][4]
The Observatory incorporates a small cottage, an addition from around 1850.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 National Heritage List 1154280: Ratcheugh Observatory (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1076985: Brizlee Tower (Grade I listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1041960: Jenny's Lantern (Grade II listing)
- ↑ National Heritage List 1057698: Crawley Tower (Grade II* listing)