Ratcheugh Observatory is a late 18th-century folly on a prominent crag between Alnwick and Longhoughton in north Northumberland, England. Commissioned by Hugh Percy, 1st Duke of Northumberland, the castellated Observatory incorporates a viewing tower with prospects of Alnwick and its castle, and of the North Sea coast at Boulmer.
Ratcheugh Observatory is located on Ratcheugh Crag, a local 120m (390feet) whinstone high-point above a foreground of fields at 85m (279feet) or lower elevations, situated east-north-east of Alnwick and west-south-west of Longhoughton; inland from the coast at Boulmer, in north Northumberland.
The Observatory, a Grade 1 listed building, is a screen-wall built at the crag edge, incorporated into which are a number of turrets or towers; and having towards its northern extent a square-plan viewing tower built on open hollow-chamfered arches. The tower has a single enclosed room, each wall having three large round-arched windows affording commanding views to the north-east, north-west, south-east and south-west. The structure is described by Historic England as a gazebo and eye-catcher in the Castellated Gothick style, and is constructed in rough-faced stone with ashlar dressings.
The Observatory was designed by (or follows a design outline of) Robert Adam, and dates from 1754–1770.[1] It provides very fine views of Alnwick Castle, Hulne Park, Hulne Priory and other local possessions of the Duke; a 360° panorama of the local area, farmland used for fox hunting and point-to-point horse racing; and distant views of Dunstanburgh and Warkworth Castles and the Farne Islands.
It is one of a number of follies built on the skylines around Alnwick; others include the 1781 Brizlee Tower, another creation of the Duke; Jenny's Lantern on the Bolton estate, and Crawley Tower on the Shawdon estate, all dating from the late 18th century.
The Observatory incorporates a small cottage, an addition from around 1850.