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The Royal Society: Science in the Making

Annotated figure,'The draught and description of the whispering place in Gloucester Abbey' by unknown artist

Reference number: CLP/7i/29

Date: 05 November 1662

Description

The layout and structure of a narrow passage in Gloucester Cathedral behind the high altar called a ‘whispering gallery’, in the shape of half of an irregular polygon, about 20 yards in length. A gentle whisper at the end of this gallery was audible for its entire length. Its description by Henry Powle was read at the meeting of the Royal Society on 5 November 1662. Earlier in the year (August 1662), Fellows including Robert Boyle, Jonathan Goddard, Walter Charleton and William Croone were discussing echoes and sounds, and had sought information about the whispering gallery from Powle.

Figure and an explanation of the text is available on the same page.

Subject: Archirecture

Reference number
CLP/7i/29
Earliest possible date
05 November 1662
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
1 page
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Annotated figure,'The draught and description of the whispering place in Gloucester Abbey' by unknown artist, 05 November 1662, CLP/7i/29, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_7i_29/annotated-figurethe-draught-and-description-of-the-whispering-place-in-gloucester-abbey-by-unknown-artist, accessed on 16 September 2024

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https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_7i_29/annotated-figurethe-draught-and-description-of-the-whispering-place-in-gloucester-abbey-by-unknown-artist

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    Dates: 1592-1741

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

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