An observatory that a king built to watch the 1769 transit of Venus. The place where official time for London used to be set. Where a murderer was sometimes in attendance when the King walked in the gardens. Find out about the history of Kew Observatory.

Kew Observatory

I've included some pictures in my "Astronomy Places" Pinterest board. There's also a map I mentioned in my posting on Syon Park. The map shows how the observatory meridian marks are set up, but also shows that the observatory is just across the Thames from Syon Park. King Henry V founded monasteries at both sites in the 15th century.