The old telescope tube and mirror housing
was removed in March 1996 and a new tube was installed within the
retaining walls in September 1996. The two windlasses required to
lift the telescope and the lower platform were missing from the
site, but a similar windlass was donated and, after complete restoration
and the fitting of a new drum, it was installed at the north end
of the observatory. The Third Earl had two Meridian Stones buried
in the grounds to properly align the North South axis of the telescope.
By the time of the restoration, however, the north stone had been
lost and a new stone was laid to replace it.
A computerised, motorised system of
operation was installed with the option of manual control. and a
computer program also allows for daily demonstrations of the operation
and range of movements of the telescope components.
Equally important tasks completed by February 1997 included the
correct fabrication and installation of the circular meridian arc,
which guides the vertical tracking of the telescope tube and the
correct selection of mechanical gearing for the windlass which drove
the lifting chain. Major efforts were taken to hide any modern features
of construction so as to achieve the goal of reconstructing the
"Leviathan of Parsonstown" to its original 1845 appearance.
