Photograph - Mono (Document ID: 102056)

Exterior view of High Field, Southowram, residence and observatory of William Richardson.

This faded 19th century photograph shows a party of Gentlemen with a variety of telescopes on the roof of High Field, William Richardson's home, workshop and observatory. See also Doc no. 102057, which is part of the same group and may be thematically connected.

William Richardson (1804-1878), optician, lecturer and geologist, was born at Brook Foot, Southowram. Orphaned at the age of ten, he worked in cloth-weaving while educating himself in science, natural philosophy and astronomy. He became expert in making optical instruments, and his work was in demand over all the country.

His later residence was at High Field, almost the highest point of Southowram, was both his workshop and his observatory, containing a large hand-operated astronomical telescope. The sides of the square observatory block face the cardinal compass points exactly, and on the wall can just be seen the clock-face of the weather vane indicator.

Richardson was a friend of William Cobbett, Radical journalist and agitator, and author of "Rural Rides ". The Bronte family knew of him, and may have known him personally, having attended his lectures in Haworth. He was well known as an exciting lecturer on diverse scientific subjects. A handbill for a series of 'philosophical lectures' at the Guild Hall, Huddersfield promises 'a variety of Electric, Galvanic, Electro-Magnetic, and Pneumatic Experiments' including some 'giving the appearance of Life to a Dead Body!!'. There was also the chance of experiencing the effects of Nitrous Oxide, or Laughing Gas.

Richardson was also noted for his memory skills, being able to repeat sections of Shakespeare and other authors at an instant. He died at the age of 74, and lies buries at St. Anne's-in-the-Grove church, Southowram. The observatory was demolished in the 1950s/60s and the site is now [2003] occupied by a garage.

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