The observatory was established in 1945 by Bernard Lovell, a radio astronomer at the university, to investigate cosmic rays after his work on radar in the Second World War. During the 1950's & 60's, it was heavily involved with the tracking of space probes at the start of the Space Age. It has since played an important role in the research of meteoroids, quasars, pulsars, masers, and gravitational lenses.
The "Mark I" telescope, now known as the Lovell Telescope, was the world's largest steerable dish radio telescope, 76.2 metres (250 ft) in diameter, when it was constructed in 1957. It is the third largest steerable radio telescope in the world.