Saturday May 19, 1894

A wall letterbox was fixed near Observatory entrance by P.O. contractors.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

RH says..... Christie presumably recorded this entry after he returned from Deal on the Sunday, as recorded on 17 May. See entry for 16 March for an image that just reveals the letter-box in situ.

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Those who worry about Christie's frequent absences from Greenwich may be interested to know that the RGO archives suggest that he did, sometimes at least, continue official correspondence from the coast. There is, for example, a letter he sent in 1888 to his then Chief Assistant, H.H. Turner, from Westgate on Sea about examining naval telescopes on behalf of the Admiralty. This letter also reports that "Neuralgia has bothered me the last two or three days...", a condition that may explain his April visit to Malvern, well known for its water cure and spa.

Saturday May 5, 1894

The Porter (McManus) fell in a fainting fit on stone step of his Lodge cutting his head badly. I was not informed of it till after he had left for home about 2pm.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

Saturday April 21, 1894

Went to Malvern in afternoon returning Thursday evening April 26.

William Christie, Astronomer Royal

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RH says..... Christie seems to be off on his holidays again, although, since Malvern was known for its water cure, this trip was very likely for reasons of health. Taking the waters at Malvern was popularised in the early 19th century by two doctors, James Wilson and James Manby Gully, and undertaken by many Victorians, including Darwin and Dickens. This image, from the Worcester County Record Office, shows St Anne's Well, Malvern's most popular spring, in about 1900.