Summary: Visit to the Old Royal Observatory at Greenwich, built by Wren for Charles II in 1675.
Description: Richard Dimbleby explains the importance of the Greenwich Meridian line ("where East and West meet"), while landmarks around the world are pinpointed longitudinally and latitudinally. Inside the Octagon Room, the Deputy Director of the National Maritime Museum briefly describes the Flamsteed clock, telescopes and a seventeenth century celestial globe. A survey of the development of navigation since the fifteenth century is then given by Ltnt Commander Waters who demonstrates the use of the Davis Quadrant, sundial and sandglass while describing the importance of astronomy for navigators. Increasing precision of navigational instruments (Harrison's Marine Chronometer was 1714 government prize) matched by advances in astronomy, with Halley's prediction of reappearance of comet every 75 years and more sophisticated telescopes. Film concludes by stressing the continuing importance of Greenwich (international Meridian line in 1884, Jodrell Bank) although the Royal Observatory has now been moved to Herstmonceaux, on account of the bad atmospheric conditions in London.
Alternative Title:
Colour:B&W
Digitised:
Object_Number:RMY 222
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:NON-IWM
Featured Period:1946-1975
Production Date:1962
Production Country: GB
Production Details: BBC (Production company)
Shepheard, Kenneth (Production individual)
Dimbleby, Richard1913-05-251965-12-22British broadcaster and journalist (Production cast)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: May, W E (person)
Waters, D W (person)
Keywords: equipment, British maritime - navigational: Davis Quadrant (object name)
equipment, British maritime - navigational: globe (object name)
equipment, British maritime - navigational: chronometer (object name)
sciences, British - astro: astronomy (object name)
sciences, British - astro: navigation (object name)
Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, England, UK (geography)
GB, England & London, SE <National Maritime Museum, Greenwich> (geography)
Herstmonceaux, Sussex, England, UK (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 16mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 1110 ft; Running time: 32 mins
