Work has begun to restore the Observatory in Hesketh Park. Initial funding was provided by the ward Councillors.



The astronomical observatory stands on a small mound in the center of the park. It was originally the private observatory of Joseph Baxendell FRAS (1815–1887).

THE TELESCOPE




Baxendell arrived in Southport in the late 1800s having retired from his post as Timekeeping astronomer for the City of Manchester. He had been invited by John Fernley to come and manage the running of his recently opened Meteorological Observatory also sited in the Park. Baxendell was to continue his astronomical work in his observatory at his home in Liverpool Road.



After his death the Baxendell family offered the observatory and its equipment to the then Southport Corporation (Education Department) and was duly opened in September 1901 and a detailed description of the ceremony appeared on the 5th Sep 1901 in the "Southport Visitor". The observatory was open to the public who were able to purchase tickets at the Town Hall and local Newsagent and the visits were supervised by a Mr Ralph Green and other members of the Meteorological Observatory team.

Activity became sparse during the war years and in the 1960s the Education Department handed management of the observatory to Southport College. Their Head of Maths and Physics, John Bryson, who used the observatory for his work as a teacher also voluntarily opened the observatory every week during the winter months, when the weather was suitable, to members of the public. By 1980 the observatory fell into disuse mainly due to the encroachment of forest trees making observations difficult or impossible. However, in 1985/6 the Education Department took a hand and managed a minor refurbishment of the building and telescope.

The object was to use the facilities for organized school visits and invite the Astronomical Society to come back and make use of the building as well as organize Open Days and observational visits on suitable occasions. Although the Astronomical Society continue to use the observatory these ceased when the observatory was included in the 2007 refurbishment of the Park and Observatory.

The building now has an electricity supply and telephone access but unfortunately during the building refurbishment a copper lining was used on the dome which attracted the attentions of illegal copper merchants. This has caused some damage to the dome. Although the dome metal runner was also renewed at this time it has not proved satisfactory and until this is put right the observatory cannot be used for observational work. The Astronomical Society continue to use the building for some of their meetings ( a bit of a squash on some evenings!)and organize Open Days when members make themselves available to talk to visitors about the observatory and the society.