Herstmonceux Observatory Campaign Update
Group Update Jan 10 2025
What We Know
Queen's University, Canada, which owns the estate that includes both Herstmonceux castle and the former buildings and instruments of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, has announced it will not extend the lease held by the Observatory Science Centre (OSC) beyond 2026. The OSC is therefore looking for new premises.
Following their response to a letter from Wealden District Council’s chief executive Trevor Scott, Queen's University have issued a new statement that builds on that release, but uses slightly more reassuring language:
Queen’s University continues to assess and address the needs of the Herstmonceux Castle Estate. We will soon be embarking on a full operational and strategic review concerning the future orientation and sustainability of the college, the buildings, and the Herstmonceux property on which they are located. Signing any long-term leases in advance of that effort would be imprudent and premature.
The university appreciates that not renewing the lease with the Observatory Science Centre while we focus on assessing the estate and various components, creates challenges for their operations and we respect their decision to relocate when the lease expires at the end of 2026.
In the meantime, the university values and is committed to preserving the estate’s historic sites, including the telescopes, domes, and observatory buildings, which make up vital parts of the estate’s heritage. We hope to provide further updates as work progresses on these and other projects, as we recognize the castle is a vibrant and important hub for Queen’s University and the East Sussex community.
Grade 2* listing has been confirmed by Historic England to cover the domes and the instruments, so whoever owns the land is obliged to preserve and maintain them. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1391813?section=official-list-entry
What's Underway
Jan 10 2025: The campaign group has sent an open letter to Queen's University, Canada, including over 300 testimonials from the community, asking that the university extends the lease to the Observatory Science Centre and engages with our group and other community stakeholders. The community contributions in the letter were compiled by Dr Ryan French, who handed the results to this team. Download the letter and contributions on our Downloads page.
26 Sept 2024: The Twentieth Century Society (C20) emailed the campaign team to say Herstmonceux Observatory is being considered for its biannual Risk List, which highlights the UK's top 10 most threatened 20th and 21st century buildings. More here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1131103017983895/permalink/1166113284482868/
The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) has encouraged its more than 4,000 Fellows to sign our petition. This is due to the RAS receiving no response to its letter to the Executive Director of Bader College (Queen's University's current owners of the Castle and grounds) after four weeks. At that time, Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director & Press Officer for the RAS said, "My hope is that they enter into dialogue with us and the wider community in the near future."
Queen's Journal, Queen's University's student newspaper, contacted the campaign team for a statement about the campaign. The Journal has previously been critical of Queen's management of Bader College. The Journal has also agreed to publish the community-led letter by Ryan French to apply pressure from within. https://www.queensjournal.ca/
The Observatory Science Centre held its 20th Astronomy Festival 30 Aug - 1 Sep and, with the help of so many of our group members, who visited, spent money, and were so warm in their support for the OSC staff and our campaign, the festival was their most successful ever. This all helps show what a great job the OSC does already and how little point there is in them having to move.
The Save the Observatory Science Centre petition on change.org now has over 11,000 signatures (Thanks, Zara Drake). Please sign if you haven't already. https://www.change.org/SavetheOSC
Wealden District Council has also written to Queen's University. Councillor Paul Coleshill, who represents Herstmonceux, says, “We at Wealden are disappointed not to have been kept informed by the university, which we are still trying to contact. That said, we are in discussions with the science centre to support them in any way we can."
Media
An episode of the RAS's The Supermassive Podcast included a big mention of the campaign and our petition. The podcast features group member Robert Massey and well-known astro communicators Izzie Clark and Becky Smethurst. We understand it has around 1.5 million listeners! Thanks, Robert!
https://audioboom.com/posts/8558255-bonus-galaxy-spin-and-saving-herstmonceux-observatory
Update from BBC News East Sussex, with new statement from Queen's University: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvpym84ygvo
Hailsham FM Interview with Sandra Voss, Science Director at the Observatory Science Centre (6 August) (Thanks, Neil Povey): https://www.facebook.com/share/p/w2bMQDoVLSWe2MEF/
Sky at Night magazine article about the situation: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/herstmonceux-observatory-science-centre-move
Radio feature on BBC Radio Sussex: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/yD23pKUSXJtyPGQc/
For the background story on the Herstmonceux observatory, why it may close and what we can all do about it, please see this speech to the 2024 Astronomy Festival: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1131103017983895/permalink/1131148231312707/
