Navy Estimates for the Observatory, 1881/2–1886/7 & 1898/9

During Chrisite's period in office as Astronomer Royal (1881–1910), the majority of the Observatory’s funding came from the Admiralty via the Navy Vote. Significant funding was also received through private patronage, particularly in the form of telescopes. The cost to the public purse was further reduced by the loan of instruments from other institutions.

The not inconsiderable cost of printing the volumes of Greenwich Observations was transferred (from?) to the Stationary Office (HMSO) in 1835. It is recommended that the information on this page is read in conjunction with the following background information:

Board of Ordnance Funding (1675-1818)
Admiralty Funding (1811-1965)
Funding by the Research Councils (1965-1998)
Civil List Funding (1752-1875)
Treasury funding via the budget for Civil Services and Stationary Office
Board of Trade Funding
Private Patronage
Instruments on Loan

 

The Financial Year

During this period, the financial year ran from 1 April to 31 March.

 

What is and what isn’t included below – caveat lector

The data below comes from a combination of the published annual volumes and the original manuscript volumes prepared by the Admiralty, which are now held at Kew (ADM181). Unlike the published volumes, many of the manuscript versions have a useful commentary detailing why changes have arisen from one year to the next.

The Supplementary Estimates primarily dealt with expenditure on previously unforeseen, but urgently required items.

Beginning in 1883/4, there are cross references in the Vote 5 (Scientific Branch) estimates to additional sums being allocated for the Observatory under Vote 10 (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad). Later years, also have cross references to other of the Votes. What happened prior to 1883/4 is not clear. It may have been that everything was lumped into Vote 5, or it may have been that amounts were included in other Votes but without the cross referencing.

 

Navy estimates for other years

The following are also available on the website:

Navy Estimates for the Observatory, 1812–1881/2


 

 

Navy estimate 1881/2 (Vote 5, Scientific Branch)



 



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,200



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 per annum 600



Two First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 per annum 787



Four Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 per annum         
1,017



Supernumerary Computers 500



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   140


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




Superintendent from £320 to £450 per annum 450



Assistant from £180 to £250 per annum 250



Supernumerary Computers 200



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 5,144



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
300



Incidental Workmen’s expenses of all kinds
670



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 250



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 100



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 25


Extraordinary Expenses




Computations on Lunar Theory 50



Whitewashing and Painting Observatory Buildings 63



New Library  
600


Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           250



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
2,639








Total
£ 7,783


 

 

Navy estimate 1882/3 (Vote 5, Scientific Branch)



 



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,000



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 per annum 512



Two First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 per annum 681



Four Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 per annum         
967



Supernumerary Computers 500



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   187


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




Superintendent from £320 to £450 per annum 450



Assistant from £180 to £250 per annum 250



Supernumerary Computers 200



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 4,747



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
300



Incidental Workmen’s expenses of all kinds
670



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 250



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 100



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 25


Extraordinary Expenses




Whitewashing and Painting Observatory Buildings 228



Repairs to Time-Ball tower at Deal  
50


Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           250



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
2,204








Total
£ 6,951


 

 

Navy estimate 1883/4
 
Vote 5, Scientific Branch   



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,000



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 per annum 532



Two First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 per annum 711



Four Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 per annum         
1,011




Supernumerary Computers 540



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   187


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




Superintendent from £320 to £450 per annum 450



Assistant from £180 to £250 per annum 250



Supernumerary Computers 230



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 4,911



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
600



Employment of Temporary Foreman of Works, Joiners, Labourers &c. 510



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 250



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 100



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 25


Extraordinary Expenses




Rotating Dome for Lassell Telescope 500


Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           150



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
2,446








Total
£ 7,357


     
Vote 10, (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad)   
Furniture 50
Total (Vote 10)
50

Grand Total £ 7,407

 

 

Navy estimate 1884/5
 




Vote 5, Scientific Branch   



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,000



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 per annum 552



Two First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 per annum 741



Four Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 per annum         
1,047




Supernumerary Computers 540



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   187


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




Superintendent from £320 to £450 per annum 450



Assistant from £200 to £300 per annum 270



Supernumerary Computers 230



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 5,017



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
600



Employment of Temporary Foreman of Works, Joiners, Labourers &c. 480



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 200



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 30



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 25


Extraordinary Expenses




For connecting present sewers with Main Drainage System 210


Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           150



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
2,026








Total
£ 7,043


     
Vote 10, (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad)   



Furniture 30



Total (Vote 10)
30







Grand Total £ 7,073

 

 

Navy estimate 1885/6
 




Vote 5, Scientific Branch   



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,000



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 per annum 512



Three First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 per annum 1,095



Three Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 per annum         
776




Supernumerary Computers 540



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   187


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




Superintendent from £320 to £450 per annum 450



Assistant from £200 to £300 per annum 280



Supernumerary Computers 230



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 5,070



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
600



Employment of Temporary Foreman of Works, Joiners, Labourers &c. 480



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 200



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 30



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 50


Extraordinary Expenses




None




Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           150



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
1,841








Total
£ 6,911


     
Vote 10, (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad)   



Furniture 30



Total (Vote 10)
30







Supplementary Estimates
Extraordinary Expenses
Large Refracting Telescope (total estimated cost £3,600)   
500
Total Supplementary Estimates 500

Grand Total £ 7,441

 

 

Navy estimate 1886/7
 




Vote 5, Scientific Branch   



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal 1,000



Chief Assistant, from £500 to £600 (x£20) per annum 532



Three First Class Assistants, from £320 to £450 (x£15) per annum 1,140



Three Second Class Assistants, from £200 to £300 (x£10) per annum         
796




Supernumerary Computers 540



Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter   187


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




One Superintendent from £320 to £450 (x£15) per annum 450



Assistant from £200 to £300 (x£10) per annum 290



Supernumerary Computers 230



Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 5,165



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 70



Repairs to Buildings, Fixtures, &c.   
600



Employment of Temporary Foreman of Works, Joiners, Labourers &c. 480



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 200



Current Contingencies and Fuel 160



Galvanic Contingencies 30



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph 50


Extraordinary Expenses




Large Refracting Telescope (total estimated cost £3,600)   
1,300


Calculation of Ten Years’ Star Catalogue    
60

Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           150



Daily Telegrams to the Bulletin of the National Observatory at Paris 16



Total Contingencies         
3,201








Total
£ 8,366


     
Vote 10, (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad)   



Furniture ?



Total (Vote 10)
?







Grand Total £ ?

 

 

Navy estimate 1898/9
 




Vote 6, Scientific Branch   



Salaries £. 




Astronomer Royal (note a)
1,000



2 Chief Assistants, from £500 to £600 (x£20) per annum 1,122



4 Assistants, from £200 to £450 (x£15) per annum 1,633



2 Established Computers Higher Grade, from £200 to £300 (x£10) per annum (note b)      
530


5 Established Computers, from £80 to £190 (x£7) per annum


Supernumerary Computers 540


Magnetic and Meteorological Branch




1 Assistant as Superintendent from £200 to £450 (x£15) per annum 450



1 Established Computer, from £80 to £190 (x£7) per annum 80



Supernumerary Computers 250

.....
1 Clerical Assistant from £250 to £350 (x£10) per annum 262
Wages of Labourer, Watchman, and Gate Porter  and Messengers (note c)
299
Wages of Temporary Workmen, &c. 652


Total Salaries, Wages and allowances 7,416



 
 



Contingencies




Expenses of the Board of Visitors 85



Repairs to Instruments, New Instruments, &c. 150



Galvanic Contingencies 30



Expenses of Signal Time Ball at Deal
85



Photographic Chemicals for Heliograph and the Photographic Equatorial
50

Cost of Fuel and Gas 100
Contingencies 200

Magnetic and Meteorological Department  



Repairs of Instruments, New Instruments, and current Expenses of all kinds           190

Extraordinary Expenses
Calculation of Ten Year Star Catalogue 1887–1896 100
Electric Light Installation 30
New Chronograph 150
Determination of the Longitude of Killorrglin (Ireland) 120


Total Contingencies         
1,260








Total
£ 8,366



   
 


Vote 10, (Works, Buildings, and Repairs at Home and Abroad)   



Completion of Physical Observatory (note d)
3,500



Total (Vote 10)
3500







Grand Total £ 11,866

notes
(a) In occupation of official residence or quarters
(b) These appointments are presntly held by two Second Class Assistants of the old Establishment
(c) For extra remuneration paid out on other votes, see Appendix, No.8, p.202 [copied below]
(d) Re-vote or part re-vote

Appendix, No.8. Detailed statement of Extra Renumeration to Salaried Officers, &c. of Naval Establishments &c.
Gate Porter, Pension as Marine (Vote 14)
36 10 0
Gate Porter, Pension as Marine (Greenwich Hospital) 7 12 0
Messenger, Pension as Seaman (Vote 14)
34 4 0
Total 78 6 0