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Photo By Michael Botten of Hastings

It is said that the astronomer Sir William Herschel,( 1738-1822) was a friend of Mad Jack, and this may have inspired him to build an observatory, although the study of science and related matters would have been fashionable for the wealthy in Mad Jack`s period of time.

German born Herschel is remembered among other things, for the discovery of Uranus, the schoolboys favourite planet in the mis-pronouncement department.
The observatory was designed by Sir Robert Smirke, and completed in 1818. Sir Robert who later went onto design London's British Museum 30 years later, had not it seemed, had much experience with astronomical observatories.
A survey of the observatory made in the sixties, decided the floor would have transmitted rather too much vibration to a telescope, to make it practicable for serious use, even at the time of its building.
This did not stop the use of the observatory though, and it even had a Camera Obscura installed, this by its nature of use, being a novelty rather than of real scientific value.


Visiting:-
The building is now used as a private house, and is not open to viewing. It can be seen from the road running north from the B2096 at Wood's Corner.

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