Often referred to as ‘Sackville Street’s best-kept secret’, the Godlee observatory in Manchester city centre has been going strong for over 100 years – despite the fact that the roof is constructed from papier-mache.
Located in a tower on the roof of the University of Manchester’s Sackville Building (formerly the Municipal School of Technology), its origins date all the way back to 1892.
An impressive architectural feat, it’s stood high in the sky for over a century and even survived WWII, which saw a large proportion of old Manchester decimated by air raids.
Yet, despite the observatory having been at the heart of the city’s astronomical research for more than a century, most people don’t know this tiny window to the stars even exists.
But it does – and even better, it actually belongs to all of us.
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Gifted to the city by an eccentric chap called Francis Godlee, it was donated to the people of Manchester when construction on the building and observatory was first completed in 1902.
Reached by way of a winding, ornate wrought iron staircase that dates all the way back to Edwardian times, and then by clambering through a trap door, it’s possible for anyone to visit and really does feel like a hidden secret – tucked away at the top of the impressive Spalding and Cross building.
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The Godlee Observatory is home to two original telescopes made by Grubb of Dublin: a Newtonian telescope and a.refracting telescope, both of which date back to 1902. Apparently, if you know what you’re looking for, you can see all nine planets in the solar system from here – including Pluto.
As for that papier mache roof? It sounds impractical given the amount of rain we get here in Manchester, but it actually has a very sensible intention behind it.
The lightness of the material allows the dome’s panels to be rotated with ease using a wheel, opening up a space in the roof that’s perfect for stargazing. It’s an engineer’s dream.
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And it’s not just the observatory that’s of interest. Its generous donor and namesake was, by all accounts, quite a character in his own right too.
Known for his massive clock collection, the businessman and philanthropist entertained a wide range of interests that ranged from breeding horses to yachting.
Fascinated with mechanisms and machines, he was so quick to get a telephone hwas awarded the magnificent number of ‘4’, and even had his own x-ray machine at home which he would apparently use to photograph visitor’s hands when they came to tea.
For years, the Godlee observatory has acted as the base for the Manchester Astronomical Society – which is said to be the oldest of its kind in the whole of England.
The society still meets here most Thursday evenings, and members of the public are able to attend on request – which we’d definitely recommend.
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Today, Manchester’s astrologists prefer to use the Lovell Telescopes at Jodrell Bank when they scan the night sky – but that doesn’t mean that Godlee doesn’t have an important place in the history of astrology in the city.
Private guided tours of the facility can also be arranged.
Co-op Live confirms cancellations caused by part of air conditioning unit ‘falling from ceiling’
Daisy Jackson
The Co-op Live arena has confirmed the cause of tonight’s last-minute gig cancellation and subsequent postponement of future shows.
Reports said that an object had ‘fallen from the ceiling’ before doors to the public officially opened.
Co-op Live has now confirmed that ‘a component of the air conditioning system’ separated from the ductwork, and stressed that no one was injured.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the artist who was meant to perform tonight, had said that ‘something happened with the venue while I was at soundcheck today’.
Oak View Group, which owns the venue, said that it had ‘made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue to postpone the performance’.
Tim Leiweke, Chairman and CEO of Oak View Group said: “The safety and security of all visiting and working on Co-op Live is our utmost priority, and we could not and will not run any event until it is absolutely safe to do so.
“Today was a very unexpected situation but without a doubt the right decision.
“I deeply apologise for the impact that this has had on ticket holders and fans.”
It’s believed that the issue with the HVAC system was an isolated incident ’caused by a factory defect’.
Co-op Live said: “We were not able to verify that all similar nozzles were free of such defects.
“In conjunction with wider stakeholders, Oak View Group has made the necessary call to ensure the full safety of all visitors to the venue, and to postpone the performance.”
The rest of the nozzles inside the huge arena will now be tested for similar defects.
They said in a statement: “We understand the need to reassure fans over future shows. We are working with artist management and promoters to limit the impact on the opening season schedule.
“Where necessary, we will identify alternate dates, and will continually reassess to provide fans with sufficient notice regarding imminent shows.
“Should shows be cancelled or rescheduled, fans will be contacted by their point of purchase and offered a full refund where preferred.”
Olivia Rodrigo’s two Manchester shows at Co-op Live have been postponed
Daisy Jackson
Olivia Rodrigo’s shows at Co-op Live in Manchester have been postponed after a night of drama for the new arena.
The star was meant to bring her GUTS Tour to the city on Friday and Saturday night.
But the huge 23,500-capacity arena has now confirmed that both of these gigs will be postponed.
New dates will be announced as soon as they’re confirmed.
Co-op Live said in a statement: “Due to an on-going venue-related technical issue, the scheduled performances of Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS World Tour on 3rd and 4th May are being postponed.
“Ticket holders can either hold onto their tickets or obtain a refund from their point of purchase.
“We deeply apologise for the significant inconvenience this will cause for many.”
The massive arena was supposed to open for the first time to the public tonight with a performance by A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie.
But it was called off at the eleventh hour, with fans turned away from the doors just minutes before they were meant to open.
Co-op Live has now confirmed that the reason for the cancellation was that a piece of the HVAC (air conditioning) system had ‘separated from the ductwork’.
Rigorous testing on the rest of the system now needs to take place before fans can safely be welcomed inside.
Olivia Rodrigo has yet to issue a statement about her Manchester shows on 3 and 4 May being postponed.