Observatory House

Observatory House

Observatory House was an observatory in Slough, England. It was built, run and used by the astronomer William Herschel, and his sister Caroline. The famous '40-foot telescope' - at that time the largest in the world - was housed there in the late 18th century and early 19th century.[1]

The main house was on Windsor Road. There was also a small cottage on the land. Herschel moved there on 3 April 1786. John Herschel was born in the house, and William died there on 25 August 1822.[2] John Herschel and his family moved out of the house to Hawkhurst in 1840.[3] Observatory House was later demolished. A monument remains on Herschel Street, close to where the 40-foot telescope was located.[2]