Flamsteed House, the original Observatory building at Greenwich, was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke and built in 1675-76. John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal, lived and worked there to his death in 1719 by which time it was already known as Flamsteed or Flamsteed's House, a name which has stuck to his day.

This view shows it after 1833 when the first time-ball was installed on the eastern turret of Flamsteed House. Another piece of apparatus is also visible in the centre of the roof. The whole frontage is rather extended and the flanking pavilions are shown more as domes than they are. It is possible the composition is based on an earlier view such as PAD2226 (1824) rather than direct observation. In both the height of the hill is much reduced and figures and trees introduced for picturesque reasons. PvdM 10/05