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Herstmonceux Castle in old photographs (1850–1910)

Herstmonceux Castle has been described as the finest early brick building in England. Begun in 1441, it was partially dismantled in 1777. It remained a ruin until the early 20th century when it was converted back into a residence. It was occupied by the Royal Observatory from 1948 until the end of the 1980s when the Observatory was moved to Cambridge.

The ruins were a popular visitor attraction and featured in the catalogues of several well known photographic publishers. They were also popular with the publishers of postcards. The photographs on this page have all been scanned from original albumen prints, some of which were mounted and some of which were unmounted.

The Royal Observatory at Herstmonceux

Herstmonceux Castle (eighteenth century engravings)

 

Publisher: George Washington Wilson. Caption: Herstmonceux Castle, Sussex, from the south. Serial number: 3615. Dimensions: 7.5 x 4.75 inches. Estimated date: listed on p. 115 of the 1896 England catalogue

Publisher: Francis Frith. Caption: n/a. Serial number: 25346. Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 inches. Estimated date: listed as 1890 on the Frith website

Publisher: Carl Norman. Caption: Herstmonceux Castle. Serial number: 1143. Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 inches. Estimated date: c.1890?

Publisher: Carl Norman. Caption: Herstmonceux Castle, Serial number: 1146. Dimensions: 8 x 6.5 inches. Estimated date: c.1890?

Publisher: unknown. Caption: Herstmonceux Castle. Serial number: n/a. Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Publisher: unknown. Caption: Herstmonceux Castle. Serial number: n/a. Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Carte de visite: Publisher: unknown. Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: Card: 3.75 x 2.75 inches, Image: 3.4 x 2.25 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Photographer: unknown. Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Estimated date: unknown

Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Probably taken on the same date and by the same photographer as the image above

Nominal dimensions: 3.75 x 2.75 inches. Probably taken on the same date and by the same photographer as the image above