BRIEF HISTORY DURING THE SNOW ERA (1813-58)

The South Villa was built in 1827 by Decimus Burton for William Henry Cooper.  From 1834-61, it was home to George Bishop, a London wine merchant who built and maintained an astronomical observatory.  It was here that some notable observations of double stars were made. Bishop wrote a book about his astronomical observations and was President of the Royal Astronomical Society. 

Sources: 

Saunders A. The Regent's Park Villas, 1981.

Weinreb B, Hibbert C (eds). The London Encyclopaedia, 1993.

View of South Villa in 1800s Click here to see earlier image

Old Ordnance Survey Map of 1870 Click here to see more details 11 years later