Victorian beleif in progress through self-improvement led to a tremendous appetite for lectures and displays with an educational theme, including astronomy. From the 1830's, controversial new theories about the origins of the universe challenged the idea of a God who created the earth in six days. Mr Frederick Grafton's clockwork model of the solar system (the 'transparent orrery') and other theatrical devices to demonstrate the principles of astronomy would have appealed to the public's desire to be entertained as well as educated. They were also treated to ilustrations of a journey to exotic places and a fountain of real water!