THE BIRTHPLACE OF GREENWICH TIME

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33875, 21 June 1975, Page 12

THE BIRTHPLACE OF GREENWICH TIME

t By

K. W. ANTHONY)

AH the world regulates its clocks according to Greenwich Mean Time: and maps record the location of every place in the world according to its longitude — which is its distance east or west of Greenwich. How is it that the Thames-side London suburb of Greenwich should achieve such remarkable and universal distinction? The answer can be seen in the design of the stamp illustrated here — one of a set of five issued by Great Britain last April, to commemorate European Architectural Heritage Year. It is a reminder that Greenwich, once the location of a royal palace, was chosen by Charles U as the site of the first Royal Observatory. The building depicted on the stamp is Flamsteed House, designed by the famo.ur architect Sir Christopher Wren and constructed in 1675-76 — so the stamp also marks the tercentenary of the building. The house is so called because it was the home, as well as the business headquarters, of the first Astronomer Royal, the Rev. John Flamsteed. Two turrets This first observatory was not really an obser-

vatory at all, Flamsteed making most of his original observations from a nearby hut. On the stamp the two turrets are clearly shown, including the red ball on top of one of them which was lowered as a time signa! for the benefit of shipping in the river. The building is of red brick construction with stone facings at the corners, but what the stamp cannot show is that Wren overspent his budget on the building contract and saved money by faking some of the stonework, substituting painted wood. New home Because of the effects of atmospheric pollution on meteorological and astronomical observations, the Roj'ai Observatory

moved out of Londin it 1948 to a new home a Herstmonceux in Sussex. But the effort o! Flamsteed and his succes sors have secured foi Greenwhich an undyinf fame in calculations oi time and distance. So what has happenec to Flamsteed House’. With other former obser vatory buildings it now forms part of the National Maritime Museum, and most appropriately is used to house a unique display dealing with the history of astronomy.

staJJ’ STORY