Hill Observatory
Sir Norman Lockyer began to build the observatory in 1912 near his Sidmouth home. The Hill Observatory was intended to continue research into the Sun’s effect on the Earth’s climate, and the spectral classification of stars. By 1913 solar research had commenced using the Kensington 10-inch twin tube refractor which had been brought from South Kensington. The South Kensington site was being cleared to make space for the Science Museum and extensions to the Royal College of Science, now Imperial College.
Frank McClean gave Lockyer the Grubb twin tube 10/12-inch refractor so that the work on stellar spectra could continue. Captain William McClean, an engineer, designed and supervised the construction of the telescope domes. A radio station was arranged to gather weather reports by wireless.
After the first world war and Sir Norman Lockyer’s death, research at the observatory was directed Dr. James Lockyer, who had been his father’s assistant at the Royal College of Science. In 1932 a third dome was added with the financial support of Sir Robert Mond for the camera array known as the “Mond Astrograph”. Research continued after James’ untimely death in 1936 under the direction of Donald Edwards. By 1939, some ten researchers worked at Sidmouth and the Observatory enjoyed a high international renown.
After the second world war, financial limitations caused Lockyer’s charitable trust to seek the help of the University College of the Southwest, now Exeter University. The University took control from 1946, but astronomical research continued under Donald Edwards and Donald Barber until 1962. Exeter University had little interest in astronomy, but used the buildings for experimental observations of the upper atmosphere and geophysics. The telescopes were little used and fell into disrepair. By the mid 1970s even the interest in geophysics faded and the observatory’s grounds and buildings fell into greater decline. However, the University allowed a few local amateurs to use the McClean telescope, but first they had to remove the bird’s nest from its tube! Radio amateurs were given the use of a hut.
Some of the artifacts, papers and books were damaged or lost during this period, but the library and Lockyer’s papers were removed to the University for safe custody. During the mid 1980s consideration was given to possible future use, but no viable ideas came forward. Eventually, the University decided to sell the instruments and clear the site for redevelopment as housing. The suggestion met with very strong opposition in East Devon. The hilltop was an area of outstanding natural beauty containing one of the last remnants of natural heath in the area. Very quickly the domes became grade II listed buildings, preventing their loss or the removal of the priceless historic instruments. A local appeal raised some £250 000 to secure the tops of the hills on each side of Sidmouth from developers. Purchase of the estate was facilitated by the East Devon District Council, reselling most of the 47 acres to the National Trust and Woodland Trust. The Longhouse and a tumbledown porters lodge, were sold for redevelopment. The Council finding itself with a small profit reinvested this sum and more into the observatory. The Council refurbished the McClean telescope and built a small meeting room for the two societies.
Trustees were appointed by the radio and astronomical societies who were charged by the Council to care for the observatory and its instruments, but they should make it open to the public on nine afternoons each year. The Council invested further sums to provide paths and furnish a picnic site. A second-hand GOTO planetarium projector was purchased and the Council converted the Mond dome for its use. The observatory was reopened in 1989. The Kensington telescope was restored and made available to the public for viewing.
By 1992, the popularity of the observatory with visitors and schools had become so apparent that discussions were held with the Council which offered to provide adequate toilets and a properly designed planetarium of a capacity suited to the instrument and the class sizes of visiting schools. Membership of the two societies increased rapidly to more than 100. The agreement was that the Society would equip the new building if the Council provided the extensions. The Council invested a further sum (approximately £150 000) in the buildings and these were opened in September 1995. The two societies reformed as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity. Society membership took another leap and rose to about 200. The Society took a 30 year lease on the observatory. The Lockyer telescope returned and was restored and set up in the Mond dome. The Browning reflecting telescope (1871) was also returned, both came from private garden sheds in Exeter and Torbay where they had languished after a loan by the University. Secondary schools wish to bring whole year-groups of 120 pupils or more. Even on an October afternoon 189 visitors arrived.
Members required modern instruments suited to amateur use, so in 1998 the Victoria dome was added and equipped by the Society with a 12-inch wide-angle computer controlled Newtonian telescope for photographic and CCD imaging. Major work was undertaken on the heathland to remove the large stands of rhododendron; the heath is being restored as a demonstration conservation site. Interactive exhibits in the observatory buildings explain the science relevant to the instruments and illustrates other significant facts.
In 2012 the Connaught dome was constructed, housing a 20 inch reflecting telescope on a computerised mount, and the Lockyer Technology Centre demonstrating radio and computer based astronomy. In 2025 a new Pulsar dome is replacing the Victoria dome to house a fully computerised and automated observatory.