This achromatic telescope has a wooden barrel and four brass draw tubes. The other fittings are also made of brass and include a pivoted eyepiece cover and an objective lens cap. The maker's name appears on the smallest draw tube as 'Berge London Late Ramsden'. This is Matthew Berge (died 1819), who worked for the famous London instrument maker, Jesse Ramsden (1735–1800), and took over the firm after Ramsden's death. In addition, roman numerals roughly inscribed on a number of hidden parts are presumably remnants of the manufacturing and assembly process. The telescope also has a folding tripod stand, which was added at a later date.

It is said that the telescope originally belonged to Lord Tyrconnel, who was appointed by the British Government to follow the movement of the Russian armies following invasion by the French army under the command of Napoleon in 1812. Tyrconnel died during this campaign and left the telescope to Admiral Chichagov, who in turn presented it in 1844 to George Airy (1801–1892), fifth Astronomer Royal.