Why is Greenwich Home to the Royal Observatory?

Greenwich in south-east London has long been famous for its connections with time and longitude... and at the centre of this important role is the beautiful Greenwich Royal Observatory.

In this video, the wonderful people from the Royal Museums Greenwich Collection were kind enough to invite me to the Observatory for an after-hours look around- which means in this video, we'll pretty much have this historic site all to ourselves!

As we go around, I'll be explaining why the Royal Observatory came to be based in Greenwich, and how it sealed its position as the planet's prime time keeper, along with showing you some of its most beautiful treasures... including the Sir Christopher Wren designed 'Octagon Room' and John Harrison's revolutionary Chronometers, which are amongst the most stunning time-keepers ever crafted...
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Chapters

00:00 Intro
00:58 Longing for Longitude
03:14 Establishing the Royal Observatory
04:54 Flamsteed House
06:01 The Octagon Room
08:07 Edmond Halley
09:44 The Camera Obscura
10:34 Harrison's Chronometers
14:53 Greenwich Mean Time
15:30 The Prime Meridian
16:09 The Greenwich Time Ball
17:17 The Shepherd Gate Clock
18:31 The BBC Pips Time Signal
19:10 The Great Equatorial Telescope
21:12 Outro
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I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Royal Museums Greenwich Collection for inviting me along for this opportunity, with special thanks in particular to Victoria Mottram who showed me around the Observatory.

If you would like to visit the Royal Observatory, you can find further information on their website:

The Royal Observatory YouTube channel:

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Thanks again for watching, friends. Stay well, and please be sure to stay tuned!
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Credits:

Images:

Global Positioning Satellites, 1981: U.S National Archives (Public Domain)

Lattitude & Longitude Globes: Pearson Scott Foresman (Creative Commons)

Halley's Comet: NASA (Creative Commons)

The Longitude Act image: LiveRail (Creative Commons)

Time Ball Drop Footage: mckenndk YouTube Channel

AMAT Telescope images: © National Maritime Museum

* * *

Music:

Drunken Sailor (Cooper Cannell)

A Baroque Letter (Aaron Kenny)

Invitation to the Caste Ball (Doug Maxwell)

Juno in the Space Race (Loopop)

AnaCaptainslogue (Noir Et Blanc Vie)

Blue Danube (Strauss)

Confident Kurt (TrackTribe)
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[kevinthompson]

I live in Peacehaven, East Sussex, and the Meridian Line is here also. I have walked from here to Greenwich following the line.

[Rachel-boqg]

The Royal Museums chose the right man for the job ! A comprehensive and informative video, well done Rob.

[markcarson]

Brings back great memories of taking my girls there every summer, gonna take the grandson this year, thanks again Rob from your brilliant channel.

[ramoescobar]

Fantastic video! Whilst most people visit Greenwich during the day, it is only at night that one of its many secrets comes out to play … the green laser line that cuts the night sky to denote the meridian line. Eye catching stuff.

[damascus]

Greenwich is one of my favorite spots to go to when I'm in London. If you are interested in the history of timekeeping, a wonderful book is called Longitude, by Dava Sobel.

[kkiller]

What an honour to be allowed to have a private visit.

[ginger]

It's a Shame you never got to meet my late father. He was a guide at the Royal Observatory Greenwich until 2021.

[justjane]

Thank you for another very interesting video. Deal on the Kent coast has a maritime time ball and there’s a big advent with people bringing champagne and snacks, fireworks on the beach, watching the time ball bring in the new year.

[PaulB-]

Rob you have added yet another fascinating place for me to visit next time I am in London. I'm going to need a long stay. Well done again!

[bettyswallocks]

My favourite Harrison chronometer is the one auctioned off at Sotheby’s by Del and Rodney.

If the rhyming slang for telescope had come from the time, it would probably been _something_ rope. Bucket and rope - ‘bucket’?

[brianartillery]

I read the book, 'Longitude', about Harrison and his chronometers, years ago, and it's a strangely thrilling read. I love his H4 - such an elegant little machine.
Also in Greenwich, do you know of the small atomic reactor, which used to reside in the Royal Naval College? It was there to instruct nuclear submarine engineers what to do in an emergency.

[ChrisSmith-lsmb]

Hello Rob
Excellent video, we love going Greenwich and have visited the observatory. Our favorite time piece is the lesser watch from Del's garage. Three weeks tomorrow and we will arrive in London. Thanks Take Care Chris and Sandra of Canada.

[johnbarnes]

Loved this Rob. Packed a lot in there. Have to visit this place. Kudos for giving you access. A glorious piece of maritime history and such a wonderful site.

[jakegarvin]

Love it, why was Greenwich chosen for the Royal Observatory? "Oh, it was cheap and it had a hill"

[CthulhuInc]

ho! i began to watch this, then stopped - i think i should go back and watch all of your vids, right from day 1! haha i have a lot of catching up to do, but i don't want to miss anything! 😊

[wendalboy]

fascinating video - best channel on you tube - brilliant

[dougknight]

Thanks Rob. A fascinating insight into the history of the Royal Observatory. I’ve never visited it but will be sure to next time I’m in the UK.

[vincelardner]

Visited it as a child, but strangely though never made it up the hill when based at the Naval College many years later. The Trotter brothers certainly owed Harrison a lot, after the discovery of the 'Victorian egg timer' in their lockup. The ability to accurately calculate longitude certainly saved thousands of mariners lives, so glory to all who played a part in that achievement.

[VarangianGuard]

What a name and title.. The (fifth) Astronomer Royal, Neville Masculine.. that is a heck of a combination.

[jennythescouser]

In Liverpool, we had 'The One O'Clock Gun' until 1969. I remember hearing it when I was at my Nan's during school dinner break. I think they used the gun because Bidston Observatory was obscured by various hills and tall buildings.