HERSTMONCEUX AND THE OLD ROYAL OBSERVATORY

South of England, East Sussex, Eastbourne area.

Close to coastal town of Eastbourne and driving inland north of Pevensey village lies the Herstmonceux Science Centre and the beautiful castle of Herstmonceux. It is also only an hour drive east from the beautiful Brighton and its turbulent cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The history of the place goes back to the year of 1675 when the Royal Greenwich Observatory (RGO) was founded by King Charles in London. Due to increasing city lights and air pollution the whole institution was moved after the Second World War to the most suitable site (at least it seemed that time), Herstmonceux. The works fully resumed in ten years time and in 1967 the big 98inch Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) started its operation.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux became a world-class research centre and the castle was the place of major conferences organized each year.

Again, for its proximity to London and major cities the light pollution (and the famous English weather) became a serious issue and finally in 1979 the INT was dismantled, removed and later in 1984 installed on top of La Palma, Canary Island (run by the Royal Greenwich Observatory). The institution of RGO was moved to the university town of Cambridge.

Queen’s University of Kingston (Ontario, Canada) became the new owner of the centre and the old telescope buildings became a public science centre in 1995.

The complex with all its buildings, domes and the castle is located amidst of beautiful and evergreen park and forest.

The nice walk in this wonderful place starts in the parking lot right in front of the dome complex, The Herstmonceux Science Centre: exhibitions, lectures and many educational-public programs.

Even though a sign warns us not to go close to the big telescope’s dome, it is worth the challenge. The dome is amazingly huge and in the warm sun sounds eerie too. According to the sign it slowly falls apart and visibly has been taken into possession by birds.

There is a nice walkway in the surrounding mixed pine forest leading to a complex of new buildings, domes and to the beautiful castle of Herstmonceux (built in 1441 by Sir Roger Fiennes).

Here we have to be careful as some parts of the estate are private and guards make sure everybody is informed about this simple fact.

Nevertheless the huge park behind the castle is magical with beautiful trees, flowers and sculptures scattered all over the place. Even peacocks can be found here. The small lake on the right side of the magnificent castle just adds to the beauty of the place and the big sundial in the even more amazing park emphasizes the character of the whole area.

A short walk further up brings us to some more domes mushrooming out of nothing. The place is neat and well looked after, warning signs pointing out the private character of this area: the buildings to the left, the domes behind and other parts all belongs to the Queen’s University.

All in all, Herstmonceux is an absolutely magical and peaceful place where the huge science centre and the beautiful countryside offers plenty of exciting experiences. A must-to-see part of England for sure…