The Royal Observatory: Everyday Life at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, 1945

Cecil Beaton, The Royal Observatory - Everyday Life at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, England, UK, 1945. Black & White photograph, source: Imperial War Museum http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//44/media-44883/large.jpg This photograph was scanned and released by the Imperial War Museum on the IWM Non Commercial Licence. The work was created by Cecil Beaton during his service for the Ministry of Information during the Second World War as an official photographer of the Home Front. In the UK, photographs taken in military service, or works of art created as part of military service, became controlled under the Crown Copyright provisions and so faithful reproductions may be reused under that licence, which is considered expired after 50 years.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich is now best known as the location of the prime meridian ("Greenwich Mean Time"), but has played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation since its founding in 1675. The name "Flamsteed House" refers to John Flamsteed (1646–1719), the first Astronomer Royal, a position created in parallel by Charles II. The site is now a museum, research having moved to several other locations.

Cecil Beaton, The Royal Observatory - Everyday Life at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, England, UK, black-and-white photograph, 1945; source: Imperial War Museum, © IWM (D 24697), IWM Non Commercial Licence.