(industrial) Archaeological finds on observatory site [Cambridge]

The Observatory hill-top has long been known as both a location of early 
settlement and, in Medieval times, as Gritrow, a hamlet specialising in 
gravel quarrying. Accordingly, the site was peppered with oblong pits 
characteristic of small-scale quarrying, themselves dated to the 16-18th 
centuries.

However, within their fills were also found significant quantities of 
Iron Age and Early Roman pottery, indicating that the early settlement 
had been destroyed and redeposited by the quarrying.

Moreover, appearing like some sort of giant bull’s-eye, cut down through 
the quarries was the 13m diameter, brick-and-concrete ring foundation 
(with an enormous plinth in its centre) of the Newell Telescope.

Erected on the site in 1891, and having a 25” lens, in its day this was 
the largest telescope in the world. It stood there until 1955 when its 
mechanism was moved to Athens.

cont'd....
http://www.huliq.com/55837/archaeological-finds-observatory-site