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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Ratcheugh Observatory
Ratcheugh Observatory is a late 18th-century folly on a prominent crag between Alnwick and Longhoughton in north Northumberland, England. 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 is located on Ratcheugh Crag, a local 120-metre (390 ft) whinstone high-point above a foreground of fields at 85-metre (279 ft) or lower elevations, situated 2.2 miles (3.5 km) east-north-east of Alnwick and 1.2 miles (1.9 km) west-south-west of Longhoughton; 2.5 miles (4.0 km) inland from the coast at Boulmer, in north Northumberland.

Observatory

The Observatory, a Grade 1 listed building, 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.

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; Jenny's Lantern on the Bolton estate, and Crawley Tower on the Shawdon estate, all dating from the late 18th century.

The Observatory incorporates a small cottage, an addition from around 1850.

Notes

  1. ^ 'heugh', pronounced 'huff', is a Northumberland word meaning "a precipitous hill, a cliff, a cleft or dell with steep sides, but without a stream in it".

References

  1. ^ Heslop, Richard Oliver (1894). Northumberland Words.
  2. ^ Historic England. "Ratcheugh Observatory (1154280)". National Heritage List for England.
  3. ^ "Observatory at Ratcheugh Crag (Longhoughton)". Keys to the Past. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
  4. ^ Historic England. "Brizlee Tower (1076985)". National Heritage List for England.
  5. ^ Historic England. "Jenny's Lantern (1041960)". National Heritage List for England.
  6. ^ Historic England. "Crawley Tower (1057698)". National Heritage List for England.

55°25′20″N 1°38′48″W / 55.42231°N 1.64672°W / 55.42231; -1.64672

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