Description:A snowy winter view of the Observatory. Keele Observatory was founded in 1962 to house a 31cm refractor telescope dating back to 1874. It has since acquired a 60cm reflector for research, and has undergone significant refurbishment in 2009.
The manor of Keele was bought in 1544 by William Sneyd and for the next 400 years the estate was owned by the family, and Keele Hall became the families principal seat. The last owner of Keele, Colnel Ralph Sneyd sold the estate to Stoke-on-Trent corporation in 1949, as they were looking for a site for the University College of North Staffordshire.
The university was given its charter in August 1949, and was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 17 April 1951. Alexander D. Lindsay, an educationalist, was a prominent campaigner to establish the university, and he became its first principal. Educationalists came from around the world to see the educational innovations Lord Lindsay established at the University.