George commissioned the building of an observatory by William Chambers specifically for the observation of the Transit of Venus in 1769. There was a significant tradition hereabouts for astronomy. The White House which George III turned into Kew Palace had been the Lodge of Kew Park before his father, Prince Frederick, had refashioned it in the palladian style under the direction of William Kent. Its previous owner, Samuel Molyneux, had had installed there an observatory which was used by Frederick an enthusiastic astronomer.

O/S Co-ords:1712.7576
Source(s):

Kew Past