Fabulous Flamsteed House

[evacguy]

• ILCE-7M4
• FE 70-200mm F2.8 GM OSS II
• 108.0 mm
• ƒ/22
• 1/125 sec
• ISO 320

 

[Unframed Dave]

What is the red "golf ball", it completely blows the symmetry?

 

[evacguy]

What is the red "golf ball", it completely blows the symmetry?

Hi Dave, the building is Flamsteed House, the first Royal Observatory, designed and built by Wren in 1675. The red ball is the time ball, it was installed in 1833. It is a time keeping device. Just before 12:00 noon each day, the ball is raised to the top just below the "+ compass headings". It slowly descends and when it reaches the base, it is precisely 12:00 noon. Sailing ships all along the Thames would set their ships clocks to 12:00 noon by observing the time ball. It still works today.
I forgot to add, the prime meridan also passes straight through here. This is were the world measures 0 Longnitude from and is the place where GMT was invented.