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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

Except where indicated, all text and images are the copyright of Graham Dolan