The Observatory once stood in the grounds of a property on Blackberry Lane, it was built by the Astronomer James Worthington (1884-1980), with the official opening taking place on the 8th November 1913. Approximately thirty members of the London Astronomical Society were present including the society President Prof Alexander Bickerton.

However, despite the process of finding the perfect site and the enormous expense of the equipment within, it is claimed that Worthington did not have time to fully appreciate it. In late 1914 he wrote an open invite to other astronomers offering them the use of his site for up to 3 months at a time, adding that he could offer them a bed. He suggested that groups of 2 or 3 were better due to the ‘arduous handling’ of the equipment, in which case his cook would provide all their meals for them as well.

The observatory appears to have had a short life, with most use being recorded between 1913-1918. By 1918 Worthington had purchased property in California, where he met and then married a lady called Ethel, he then permanently relocated to the USA in the early 1920’s, where he died in 1980.

The Observatory was still in use during 1919, however by October that year it and the contents of the residence were listed for sale, initially being offered to the British Astronomical Association for £3500, a sum that when also taking into account the annual running fees was out of their reach. It appears that the Observatory was sold by way of auction the following year, with the sale price reported as being £1560.