Meridian Pillars, Brisbane House

The Meridian Pillars at Brisbane House stand near Largs in North Ayrshire, Scotland, quiet remnants of a private astronomical installation with a history stretching back centuries.

About the Meridian Pillars, Brisbane House

The pillars are associated with an astronomical installation once built at Brisbane House, a residence constructed in 1636 by the Kelso family and acquired by the Brisbane family in 1671. Records show the observatory construction cost £545, with a further £528 spent on astronomical instruments purchased in London - a significant investment reflecting the family's interest in the science.

History

Brisbane House remained with the Brisbane family until 1932. The house itself was demolished in 1942 during a training exercise by a No. 3 Commando unit, leaving only wall fragments and a cellar behind. The meridian pillars survive as one of the few visible traces of the estate's astronomical past, and the site is now under council ownership with heritage trails for visitors.

Location & getting there

The pillars are located near Largs, in North Ayrshire, Scotland, on the site of the former Brisbane House estate.

Visiting the Meridian Pillars

The site is accessible via North Ayrshire's heritage trails, which interpret the estate's history for walkers. As with any historic ruin, checking local trail information before visiting is worthwhile.

See your named star from here

Though the original observatory instruments are long gone, the sky above Largs is the same one Sir Thomas Brisbane once studied. A star named through Star Register keeps fixed coordinates you can look up any time in the catalogue, wherever you choose to look for it.