Herstmonceux Picture Book
CastleCentre towerObservatory
Herstmonceux Castle, Gardens and Science park make a wonderful place to visit as it covers a range of interests it has something to offer for almost everyone. The castle is now run by Queens University Ontario Canada as a study centre. For more details of the history of the castle and surrounding area visit the Herstmonceux Parish website or the official website for the castle.

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Castle side
Side entrance to castle
Castle bridge
Front entrance bridge over the moat
Courtyard Courtyard
Courtyard Courtyard
Courtyard Courtyard
Courtyard through window Staircase
Staircase detail Staircase detail
Staircase detail Staircase detail
Staircase detail Staircase detail
Fireplace Panneling around fireplace
Ceiling decoration Ballroom ceiling decoration
The ballroom Ballroom fireplace
Linenfold carved door Fireplace
Administration door
Ornate doorway of the administration office.
Cornerpost of stair
Detail of the corner post of the ornate stairway .
Staircase detail
Detail of the ornate staircase. The woodcarver who made the staircase was known to include a peapod in the design. If the pod was closed this indicated that he had not been paid for the work before starting the commission whereas if hed been paid in advance the pea pod was open showing the peas within, This staircase has open pea pods indicating the commision was paid for  before work started.
Staircase detail
View up the ornate staircase to the Administration doorway
Going down the staircase
Going down the ornate staircase in the Administration area.
Clean lines staircase
Probably the simplest staircase in the castle I just couldn't resist the  clean geometrical lines contrasting with ornate lines of the other staircases.
Rose garden sundial from ballroom
Rose garden and sundial viewed from ballroom
Rose garden sundial
Sundial in the rose garden.
Rose garden and sundial Parterre
Observatories

Science centre with telescope observatory domes.
Congo - Schmidt 38 inch reflector
Congo - Schmidtt telescope 38 inch reflector.
House Martins nests
Look under the arch and you can see nests have been built by house martins. This probably dispels the theory that the students are the wildest animals on the site!
Heron in moat
Ancient documents show that a large number of herons existed in a nearby heronry in the times that the area was on the edge of Pevensey Bay marshes.
Student feeds ducks
Symbiotic relatioship between wildlife and students? Nah, they just like to feed the ducks!
Ancient Chestnut Tree
Ancient chestnut trees next to the visitor centre.

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© John Harper 2007

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