IN view of the solar eclipse I thought that readers who are not familiar with the history of Malvern Priory might like to know about the significant connection.
Walcher of Lorraine, the second Prior of Great Malvern’s Benedictine Priory from 1091 to 1125, was a notable astronomer.
His interest was inspired by his observation of a solar eclipse when he was in Italy, and discovering when he returned to Malvern the time at which the same eclipse was seen here, enabling him to work out the difference in longitude.
Walcher is reputed to have pioneered the use of the astrolabe in Europe and the introduction of Arabic numerals because Roman numerals were not viable for his calculations, not least because of the lack of a zero.
The lid of his tomb can be seen in St Anne’s Chapel.
Basil Dewing
Great Malvern
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