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The Place Where the Stars Align: Founding Greenwich Observatory
In June 1675, King Charles II issued a royal warrant establishing Britain's first national scientific research facility: the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. Navigational errors at sea were costing the maritime empire ships, cargo, and lives because sailors lacked an accurate method to calculate longitude. It was royal surveyor Sir Christopher Wren who designed the observatory building, and it was astronomer John Flamsteed who was appointed to map the heavens. The place where Wren chose to build the facility was a steep hill in Greenwich Park overlooking the Thames.
The place where astronomers needed to work required clear horizons, clean air, and complete isolation from London's coal smoke. The hill at Greenwich offered an unobstructed view across the river estuary. It was financial economy that dictated the building materials: Wren salvaged bricks and timber from the demolished Tower of London and Greenwich Castle to save crown funds.