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Greenwich 2

Pavilion Tea House, Royal Greenwich Observatory, Meridian Line, Shepherd Gate Clock, Standard Measurements

19. Opposite South Building is the octagonal Pavilion Tea House*, dating from 1906 and designed by Sir Henry Tanner. On its roof is a dovecot, and above that a weather vane showing Admiral Lord Nelson surveying the scene through his telescope. The ground floor part was built as an open veranda but in 1967 it was enclosed and more recently the interior has been opened up to improve the use of space. It is surrounded by a hedged* garden where visitors can enjoy their refreshments at tables under large parasols, providing a safe area for those with children, as well as some peace and space away from the crowds of tourists in and around the Observatory buildings.

* "Tea House" Insert the vowel in this and "out-house" in order to distinguish

* "hedged" Keep the halved J short, so it is not misread as "huge"

20. In 1675 King Charles II commissioned the building of the Royal Observatory on the promontory in Greenwich Park known as Castle Hill. John Flamsteed was appointed the first Astronomer Royal, whose duties were to "apply himself with the most exact care and diligence to the rectifying of the tables of the motions of the heavens, and the places of the fixed stars, so as to find out the so much desired longitude* of places for the perfecting of the art of navigation." The octagonal building is named Flamsteed House and was built on the foundations of the previous structure, Greenwich Castle, and so is not exactly aligned with the meridian. The scientific work of the Royal Greenwich Observatory moved to Herstmonceux Castle in Sussex over the period 1947 to 1957* due to light pollution in London, where it remained until 1990. The buildings at Greenwich are now administered* by the National Maritime Museum.

* "longitude" There is no "ing" or G sound in this word

* "1957" Leave out the century number when there are several dates in close succession

* "administered" Omits the R

21. In the rear of the Meridian Building there is an extensive collection of portable chronometers on display, with the conservation laboratory in full view behind, which will warm the heart of anyone with this special interest, and is free to enter. The measurement of longitude was essential for accurate navigation and this seemingly impossible problem was eventually solved by the ingenuity of John Harrison, a Yorkshire carpenter and clock-maker. He spent 50 years inventing and working on a succession of accurate and reliable portable chronometers that could be taken on sea voyages. This enabled the ship's captain* to compare local time with the chronometer which would remain set at a standard time, such as that at Greenwich. In this way he could compute the distance travelled and, in conjunction with his other measurements, find the exact position of his ship.

* "captain" You could also intersect K stroke for "captain" or use the Optional contraction "capt"

22. John Harrison eventually received a total of £23,000 (more than two million pounds* in today's values) for his contributions to solving the longitude problem, although the actual prize* money itself was never paid out. Other smaller amounts were granted to other inventors for their contributions. Four of Harrison's timepieces are on display in the main museum, three of them in full working order, along with other historical astronomical and scientific equipment. To see these you will have to enter the chargeable part of the museum, but you can see, at no cost, a replica of Harrison's first timekeeper, made by Leonard Salzer of Biggin Hill between 1970 and 1976*, on display in the National Maritime Museum building at the bottom of the hill.

* "pounds" Always insert the vowel, and also in "pence", and both vowels in "pennies"

* "1976" Leave out the century number when there are several dates in close succession

23. Some time in the 1980's Sir Isaac Newton appeared at the Observatory in the form of* this snowman built in the Meridian Courtyard of Flamsteed House. Unfortunately* he seems to have his back to the view of the Thames and London, but he is in just the right place to welcome visitors. On the same day the grassy slope beyond was transformed* into a magnificent icy downhill ride, full of parents and children rolling and sliding down on anything they could find to sit on, including one person trying out his skis. This was all rather reminiscent of the historical accounts of the game of tumbling* which was a popular entertainment for visitors to Greenwich Fair in past centuries, and may account for Snowman Newton's amused* grin. His name appears amongst the other scientists on South Building, over the terracotta figure of Astronomia.

* Omission phrase "in the f(orm of)"

* "Unfortunately" "transformed" Optional contractions

* "tumbling" Description of this game in Part 3

* "amused" "amazed" Always insert the vowel in these and derivatives

24. The time ball on top of Flamsteed House was installed by the Astronomer Royal John Pond. The explanatory plaque on the gate reads, "The red time ball on top of Flamsteed House is one of the world's first visual time signals. It was installed in 1833 (though the present one dates to 1919) to enable navigators on ships in the Thames to check their marine chronometers. The time ball drops daily at 1300 hours (GMT in winter, BST in summer). It is raised halfway up the mast at 1255 hours as a preparatory signal and to the top 2 minutes before it drops." The time is counted when the ball starts its descent, not when it reaches the bottom. The ball's descent is actually a stately lowering rather than a rapid drop. It would also have been of service to everyone within sight of it who owned a timepiece, and especially clock and watch makers, who could then provide the correct time to their customers.

25. The red line above the door on the Meridian Building in the courtyard marks the Prime Meridian. The line is also marked in a double steel strip in the granite surface on the right of the photo, which was taken from the east side at the gates. The meridian line designates zero degrees longitude and marks the boundary between the east and west hemispheres of the Earth. The International Meridian Conference held in Washington DC in the United States of America in 1884 chose Greenwich as the location of the Prime Meridian. Greenwich won the vote because it was already being used by two-thirds of shipping and it was felt that a change from the established usage would not be beneficial.

26. The steel line continues across the courtyard, with this steel sculpture placed on it as a visual description of the line. This photo of the sculpture was taken on the west side, within the courtyard. When the place is thronging with visitors, it can be difficult to get a clear photo of the buildings as a whole. Cold or dull weather would seem to be the most likely* option to avoid the crowds, as hopefully the tourists would be warming themselves in the museums and cafés, or early in the morning before the tourists venture out. At peak visitor times consideration for others taking photos can result in a halting and zigzag progress from one point to another.

* Omission phrase "mos(t) likely"

27. Standing astride the Meridian Line seems to be the favourite* place for tourists to have their* photos taken. An orderly queue is formed and everyone takes their turn to stand on the line with a friend taking the picture. Most of them seem to prefer to have the sculpture and scenery in the background. Although there is a charge to enter the courtyard and museums, reasonable pictures can be taken from outside or through the railings. If the courtyard is too crowded, there are two free places nearby where you can have your photo taken on a marked Meridian Line. Firstly*, just below the courtyard through the gate on the path that leads down behind the buildings, where the line is marked in brass on the wall and ground. Secondly on the Avenue, immediately behind South Building, just a little way past the public toilets, where the line is marked by a row of granite setts in both pathways and in the road. At night the Meridian Line laser is beamed northwards from the Meridian Building, and is visible for over 36 miles and over 60 miles with binoculars. The park closes at variable times throughout the year so one might have to make do with the illustration on the information boards.

* "favourite" Note that "favoured" uses the normal Vr stroke

* "have their" Doubling to represent "their"

* "firstly" Omits the T

www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=a088c7d0-af6d-425d-a673-9b6cc93d4640
More Meridian Line markers throughout the UK

www.thegreenwichmeridian.org

28. The Shepherd Gate Clock outside the courtyard was originally an electric slave clock, reproducing the time from the master clock within the building. The system was designed and built by Charles Shepherd Junior*, who was commissioned by Astronomer Royal George Airy in 1852 to provide a master clock and three subsidiary clocks for the Observatory. The master clock also controlled the dropping of the time ball, and sent* time signals to the London Bridge Terminus of the South Eastern Railway, for onward transmission to receivers throughout the country. Now the clock is quartz-controlled, and the other clocks are displayed in the museum. The face shows 24 hours, with midnight* marked at the top zero.

* "Junior" The diphone is written through the stroke, as an intervening vowel sign

* "sent" Short form written above the line, to distinguish it from "send"

* "midnight" Both "mid" and "night" are halved when written on their own

29. The standard measurements beneath the clock are one British yard, two feet, one foot, six inches and three inches. The two pins near the ends of each measurement are to hold the measuring rod being tested. The measurements are accurate at an ambient temperature of 60* degrees Fahrenheit* or 16* degrees Celsius. The explanatory plaque reads: "These British Imperial standards were first mounted outside the Observatory main gates some time before 1866, to enable the public to check measures of length. The stated length is the distance between the inner* faces of the two D-shaped studs."

* "sixty, sixteen" Keep the hook clear on "sixteen"

* "inner" Prudent to insert the vowel, as "near" could also make sense in some contexts

30. Brass yardsticks and brass ells were commonly kept as standard measurements. Elizabeth I had a brass yard made and copies were distributed to the principal market towns. A less common measurement was the ell, the length of a man's outstretched arms, and was used to measure out cloth. The English Ell was approximately 45 inches. Standard weights and measures were stipulated in Clause 35 of Magna Carta in 1215, "There shall be standard measures of wine, ale, and corn (the London quarter), throughout the kingdom. There shall also be a standard width of dyed cloth ... weights are to be standardised similarly."

31. The second plaque shows the height above sea level as 154.7 feet, compared with the benchmark* which is measured and maintained by the National Tidal and Sea Level Facility at their tidal observatory in Newlyn, Cornwall. This organisation is responsible for monitoring sea levels in the UK* to assist* with flood warnings, navigation and climatology. Interestingly this is just a little more than the height of the main mast of the Cutty Sark ship above her deck, at 146 feet, giving pause for thought as you look down the hill and imagine that the tiny figures on the grass below are walking about on the ship's deck, with you perched aloft. (1732 words)

* "benchmark" M can be intersected for "mark" or "market" whenever convenient

* "assist" Keep the Stee loop long, as "assess" could also make sense in some contexts

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