Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope
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Frontal view of the original plan for the Observatory, drawn by John Rennie, c. 1821. There is a common misconception amongst Capetonians that Thomas Telford, famous builder of the Menai Bridge, designed the building. This erroneous information appears to have originated in “The Guide to Cape Town” for 1890. The plan as seen here was not used. Original in the possession of the Public Records Office.
Source: Warner – Astronomers
Rear view of the original plan for the Observatory drawn by John Rennie, c. 1821. The plan as seen here was not used. Original in the possession of the Public Records Office.
Source: Warner – Astronomers
The Admiralty mislaid the original plans drawn by Rennie. This caused a delay in the commencement of the building operations. Once found, the plans were altered as seen here. This is the frontal view of the plan that was used. Original in the possession of the Public Records Office.
Source: Warner – Astronomers
Rear view of the plan that was used. Original in the possession of the Public Records Office.
Source: Warner – Astronomers
Ground plan for the Observatory. Several of the windows were false, arising from an incorrect assumption on the part of the architect that a window tax was applied at the Cape. From Volume XIX of the memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Source: Warner – Astronomers