Difference between revisions 167781031 and 167781032 on dewiki

{{Infobox Historic building
|image=Clifton Down - The Observatory (750px).jpg
|caption=
|name=The Observatory
|location_town=[[Bristol]]
|location_country=[[England]]
|map_type=Bristol
|coordinates = {{coord|51.45663|-2.62640|display=inline,title}}
(contracted; show full)

In 1977, the Merchant Venturers sold the observatory to [[Honorbrook Inns]]; however, they were obliged to maintain public access to the camera obscura whose ownership was retained by the Merchant Venturers.<ref>{{cite web
 | |title=Downs Management Plan 2006 |  work=Bristol City Council |  url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2006/wa/wa017/0904_3.pdf |  accessdate=2007-05-03 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930020411/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/committee/2006/wa/wa017/0904_3.pdf |archivedate=2007-09-30 |df= }}</ref>

It has been designated by [[English Heritage]] as a grade II* [[listed building]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Clifton Observatory | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=379207 | accessdate=2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="NHLE">{{NHLE| num=1282362 |desc=Clifton Observatory |grade=II* |accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref> and is on the [[Heritage at Risk Register|Buildings at Risk Register]].<ref>{{cite web  |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning_and_building_regulations/conservation/listed_buildings/listed_buildings_at_risk/bristol-listed-buildings-at-risk-register-2011.pdf |title=Listed Buildings at Risk in Bristol 2011 Register |publisher=Bristol City Council |date=2011 |page=48 |accessdate=20 March 2015 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008114505/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning_and_building_regulations/conservation/listed_buildings/listed_buildings_at_risk/bristol-listed-buildings-at-risk-register-2011.pdf |archivedate=8 October 2013 |df= }}</ref> In February 2015 the Observatory was bought by Ian Johnson, a local Bristol-based entrepreneur, who was born in Clifton not far from the Observatory.

==Camera obscura==
West installed telescopes and a [[camera obscura]], which were used by artists of the [[Bristol School]] to draw the [[Avon Gorge]] and [[Leigh Woods]] on the opposite side.<ref name="link"/> Many examples of these paintings can be seen in [[Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery]].  The pictures which originated from images within the camera obscura he called 'photogenic drawing'<ref name="cliftonfamous">{{cite web | |title=Clifton Famous and Infamous |  work=Clifton Online |  url=http://www.cliftononline.net/History-of-Clifton/Clifton_Famous_and_Infamous.aspx |  accessdate=2015-03-07 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131942/http://www.cliftononline.net/History-of-Clifton/Clifton_Famous_and_Infamous.aspx |archivedate=2015-04-02 |df= }}</ref> and were based on the work of [[William Fox Talbot]].

A 5" (13&nbsp;cm) [[convex lens]] and sloping [[mirror]] were installed on the top of the tower; these project the [[panoramic]] view vertically downward into the darkened room below. Visitors view the true image (not a mirror image) on a fixed circular table 5 feet (1.5m) in diameter, with a concave metal surface, and turn the mirror by hand to change the direction of view.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Bristol Camera Oscura (contracted; show full)[[Category:Industrial buildings completed in 1766]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Bristol]]
[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol]]
[[Category:Structures on the Heritage at Risk register]]
[[Category:The Downs, Bristol]]
[[Category:Camera obscuras]]
[[Category:Clifton, Bristol]]
[[Category:Observation towers in the United Kingdom]]