1. Police Protection, 1881-1912

Correspondence, newscuttings and other papers regarding security at Greenwich Park, including much material on the explosion of 15 February 1894 caused by a botched anarchist attack on the Observatory:

Papers concerning the bomb explosion in Greenwich Park, 1894.

Extracts from newspapers concerning the bomb incident of 15 February 1894:

1. 'The Globe', 16 February 1894: 'Bomb explosion in Greenwich Park'.

2. 'Kentish Mercury', 16 February 1894: 'Fatal explosion in Greenwich Park'.

3. 'Daily Graphic', 16 February 1894: 'Explosion in Greenwich Park'.

4. 'Daily Telegraph', 16 February 1894: 'Mysterious occurrence in Greenwich Park'.

5. 'St James's Gazette', 16 February 1894: 'The Greenwich explosion - the victim identified'.

6. 'Pall Mall Gazette', 16 February 1894: 'Anarchism at home and abroad'.

7. 'Central News', 16 February 1894: 'French Anarchists in London'.

8. 'Evening News', 16 February 1894: 'Bombs and Anarchy'.

9. 'The Echo', 16 February 1894: 'Startling explosion at Greenwich - plot to blow up the Observatory'.

10. 'Evening News and Post', 16 February 1894: 'Bombs and Anarchy - a French anarchist is blown to pieces in Greenwich Park, extraordinary career'.

11. 'The Star', February 1894: 'An Anarchist Accident, Frenchman the victim of his own explosive in Greenwich Park'.

12. 'The Morning', 16 February 1894: 'Anarchist attempt to blow up Greenwich Observatory'.

13. 'The Standard', 17 February 1894: 'Anarchists in London - the Greenwich explosion'.

14. 'Daily Graphic', 17 February 1894: 'The Greenwich explosion - raid on anarchist club'.

15. 'Daily Graphic', 17 February 1894: 'The Greenwich explosion - illustrated'.

16. 'Larks', vol. 2, 19 February 1894: 'The Ball's Pond Banditti at Greenwich Observatory'.

17. 'Kentish Mercury', 23 February 1894: 'The bomb explosion in Greenwich Park - opening of the inquest on Bourdin', 2 copies.

Letter from Mrs Isabella Watson, 26 February 1894, concerning the 'bomb incident' in the park on 15 February.

Anonymous letter of warning to the Astronomer Royal concerning experiments on animals, 1894.

Envelope with a warning message written across it, informing the Astronomer Royal that his telescopes are being intercepted by spiritual means, 1894.

Letter from W.R. Waugh concerning the 'bomb incident in Greenwich Park', with a miniature varnished photograph affixed beside the letter heading, 1894.

Letter from the Home Office concerning 'Outrages - attempts' and asking if any pieces of metal fell within the Observatory Grounds as a result of the explosion, 1894.

Letter from the Blackheath Camera Club concerning the explosion, 1894.

Letter from George Knott concerning the explosion, 1894.

Letter from H. Wynne concerning the explosion, 1894.

Correspondence with Henry Major concerning the committee for improving the approaches to Greenwich Park, 1883-1885, including a coloured plan showing the proposed improvement.

Correspondence with the Admiralty discussing the security of the Royal Observatory, 1885.

Correspondence with the Park Superintendent concerning a complaint about the Chief Assistant's key to the park gate, 1886.

Correspondence concerning Greenwich Park gates being left unlocked at night by Royal Observatory staff, 1886-1890.

Letter from Douglas Smith requesting permission to take photographs in Greenwich Park, 1889-1891.

Correspondence concerning a proposal for new paths in Greenwich Park and a request for permission to play a football match in the park, 1891.

Correspondence concerning the loan, return and loss of keys to Greenwich Park gates, including a list of members of staff in possession of a key, 1877-1881.

Reports by members of staff on the explosion in Greenwich Park, including letters of congratulation on the Royal Observatory's escape from harm, 1894.

Correspondence concerning the death of Mr Jordan and the appointment of his successor, 1881.

Miscellaneous correspondence relating to Greenwich Park, 1883-1891.

Correspondence with Greenwich Park authorities concerning issues relating to the use of the park, 1902-1912, including: 1. Replacement of broken keys; 2. Trees obscuring telescopes; 3. Smoke from bonfires; 4. Opening gates at night; 5. Theft of fruit from the Astronomer Royal's garden; and 6. Revising the map of Greenwich Park.

Correspondence concerning the cutting of trees which were obscuring the telescopes, 1893.

2. General correspondence, 1876-1896

Correspondence with the Superintendent of Parks requesting the use of a part of Greenwich Park to temporarily store the transit of Venus instruments, 1876.

Correspondence with the Superintendent of Parks concerning the removal of certain trees which were obscuring the telescopes, 1877.

Correspondence with the Park Keeper informing the Astronomer Royal that his servants are letting young men into the park after the gates are closed for the night, 1877.

Complaint by Sir George Airy on the disturbance caused by the sheep in Greenwich Park, 1878.

Correspondence concerning the state of the path on Observatory Hill, 1878.

Correspondence concerning the testing of the Time wires between the Royal Observatory and the South Eastern Railway, 1879.

Correspondence with the Director of Works concerning the improvements to be made in the park on Observatory Hill, 1894-1895.

Correspondence concerning the distribution of park keys to Royal Observatory staff, 1895.

Correspondence with the Office of Works concerning the supply of new keys to the park gates, 1896.

General correspondence concerning permits to take photographs in the park.

Correspondence with the park authorities, 1899.

Correspondence concerning the proposed improvements to be made to the north-west corner of the park, 1880, including an extract from the 'Kentish Mercury', 23 October 1880, titled 'The Approaches to Greenwich Park'.

3. Police Protection, 1894

Correspondence with the Admiralty and the Metropolitan Police requesting police protection following the fatal explosion in Greenwich Park on 15 February 1894.