The Eskdalemuir Observatory was constructed in 1904 as a new site for environmental measurements after the Kew Observatory in London was affected by increasing electromagnetic interference from a tram system.

The Meteorological Office offered its services to the military at the outbreak of war but was told that ‘the army does not go to war with umbrellas’.

However, the value of its ability to measure and forecast weather conditions began to be appreciated in relation to gas attacks, aviation activities, high-angle artillery fire and the use of observation balloons.

One of the observatory’s meteorologists, L H G Dines, moved to County Kerry in Ireland to become superintendent of the Valentia Observatory and was succeeded by A H R Goldie.

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