In 1898 the author of A Guide to Hampstead, P.E.Vizard, learned that a Hampstead resident, Colonel Henry Heberden JP, had a 10.5-inch Newtonian reflecting telescope that he wanted to donate to a Society in order for it to be made available to members of the public.
Thus in July 1899, at a public meeting, the Hampstead Astronomical and General Scientific Society was formed.

In 1902 the respected physician, pathologist and biographer Sir Samuel Wilks became the society's president.
 Following Wilks' retirement, in 1910 Patrick Hepburn of the British Astronomical Association (BAA) joined the society, becoming its joint secretary with Vizard.
 In 1923 a 6-inch Cooke refracting telescope was presented to the Society by George Avenell and remains the primary telescope in use at the Hampstead Observatory.
In 1898 the author of A Guide to Hampstead, P.E.Vizard, learned that a Hampstead resident, Colonel Henry Heberden JP, had a 10.5-inch Newtonian reflecting telescope that he wanted to donate to a Society in order for it to be made available to members of the public. Thus in July 1899, at a public meeting, the Hampstead Astronomical and General Scientific Society was formed.
In 1902 the respected physician, pathologist and biographer Sir Samuel Wilks became the society's president.  Following Wilks' retirement, in 1910 Patrick Hepburn of the British Astronomical Association (BAA) joined the society, becoming its joint secretary with Vizard.  In 1923 a 6-inch Cooke refracting telescope was presented to the Society by George Avenell and remains the primary telescope in use at the Hampstead Observatory.
Hampstead Scientific Society