The future of the Observatory Science Centre on Herstmonceux Castle Estate remains unknown after Queen’s forced the scientific organization to leave their longtime home.
This past month, the Board of Trustees of Bader College decided not to renew a lease with The Observatory Science Centre. The Centre, situated on the Herstomoncux Castle Estate where Bader College is also located, needs to vacate the property when its lease ends in 2026.
Herstmonceux Castle, home to Bader College, closed after an inspection revealed significant damage to the building in November 2023.
READ MORE: Bader College closed, uncertainty remains
g any long-term leases before conducting an operational and strategic review of the Herstmonceux property would be “imprudent and premature,” the University claimed in an update regarding Bader College and Herstmonceux Castle Estate on Aug. 14.
“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,” the University said.
When Abbie Rumbold, the acting chief executive officer of the Centre, read the statement, she was confused. It suggests the Centre wished to relocate, which is not what they want, Rumbold explained in an interview with The Journal.
Rumbold learned the University was terminating their lease before the public announcement. The University didn’t explain why they were terminating their lease, nor did they explain what purpose the building would serve in the future. While she’s open to discussing the termination with the University, she has not received any communication from them since the decision was made.
While Rumbold was disheartened by the news, she was comforted by the subsequent she received from the scientific community.
“What’s been really fantastic for us is there’s been this huge community and public outcry about the closure,” Rumbold said.
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Zara Drake
Over the years the science centre have worked tirelessly to fund and restore the grade II* listed observatory and the telescopes back to their former glory. The restoration of the site has enabled astronomy enthusiasts the unique opportunity to observe the night sky through the historic telescopes, which they would be able to have anywhere else in the UK. With many people attending viewing evenings and their annual astronomy festival each year. The centre is a major venue for exhibitions, lectures and educational programmes. The renovated telescopes provide a unique setting for the general public, schools, colleges, and brownie and scout groups to learn about science, space and the world around them. Inspiring a new generation of scientists. The science centre should not have to leave the Observatory site at all and the historic site should be preserved for future generations as a great educational tool of significant historical importance. Please sign our petition for the science centre to stay: https://www.change.org/SavetheOSC