Earthquake House

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Earthquake House
Earthquake House
General information
Architectural styleObservation station
AddressRoss, Dalginross, Comrie, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
Coordinates 56°22′19″N4°00′03″W / 56.371923°N 4.000851°W / 56.371923; -4.000851
Year(s) built1872
The Earthquake House from the west The Earthquake House from the west (geograph 5345481).jpg
The Earthquake House from the west

The Earthquake House, on the outskirts of the village of Comrie, in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, was the first dedicated earthquake observatory in the world. Comrie lies on the Highland Boundary Fault and suffers more tremors and quakes than anywhere else in the United Kingdom. The first modern seismometer was invented in Comrie in 1840 and the building put up 32 years later [1] to house it, [2] on land belonging to Mr Drummond of Drumearn, which he granted free of charge. [3]

By 1911 the building was redundant, and, although restored and re-commissioned in 1988 with modern equipment, [4] it is not open to visitors; however a window does allow a glimpse inside. [5]

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References

  1. Carus-Wilson, Cecil (7 October 1911). "The "Earthquake House" at Comrie". Strathearn Herald. 87 (2187): 6. Bibcode:1911Natur..87..415C. doi:10.1038/087415a0.
  2. Murphy, Sean (16 November 2021). "The fascinating story of Scotland's earthquake house created for the world's first modern seismometer". Daily Record. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  3. "Comrie earthquakes". Coatbridge Express: 1. 2 June 1886.
  4. "Good vibrations at Comrie". Strathearn Herald: 3. 30 April 1988.
  5. "Earthquake House". Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 21 January 2024.