2-982-229 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Sir Isaac Newton's Observatory, St. Martin's Street, Leicester Square, [London], 1858. Interior of the house '...in which this great philosopher lived for several years...The most remarkable feature in the external view is a square chamber which was built on the top of the house by direction of Sir Isaac to serve the purpose of an observatory...in a room upstairs there is a valuable collection of portraits and other matters illustrative of Newton's life. Above are various tenants; and in the observatory philosophical instruments and books have given place to stalls and implements of some of the brotherhood of St. Crispin...Some time ago the Prince Consort called there, it having been suggested that the house might be usefully transformed, at small cost, into a school and literary institution. Since then the same notion has been advocated elsewhere, and good may result from again bringing the matter before the attention of the public, for it would be a pity to allow a place so much associated with the memory of Newton to lose its high historic interest - lapsing into the dull level of ordinary dwellings'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858.