An observatory set up by one of Bristol’s most celebrated sons has been given a prestigious accolade.
Jodrell Bank Observatory, Cheshire, was founded in 1945 by astronomer Bernard Lovell, a University of Bristol graduate born in Oldland Common.
The facility, which boasts the famous telescope bearing Lovell’s name, has now been declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Director of Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre Teresa Anderson described the honour as “wonderful news”.
She said: “It honours the pioneering work of Sir Bernard Lovell and the early scientists here, together with the world-leading research that continues to this day.”
The Lovell Telescope, based at the University of Manchester-owned site, is now the world’s third-largest steerable radio telescope, but until 1973 there was none bigger.
Its first act was to track the Soviet Union’s Sputnik, the world’s first artificial satellite.
Today the observatory hosts the headquarters of the Square Kilometre Array - a project to build the world’s largest telescope - and operates the UK’s national e-MERLIN radio telescope.
Jodrell Bank became the UK’s 32nd Unesco World Heritage Site in recognition of its outstanding scientific heritage, including its pioneering role in the development of radio astronomy and its efforts during the early space race.
Sir Bernard, born in 1913, attended Kingswood Grammar School (now King's Oak Academy) and went on to gain a first-class physics degree from the University of Bristol.
He was knighted in 1961 for his important contributions to the development of radio astronomy. Sir Bernard died in 2012 aged 98.
