A popular East Sussex science centre, whose mission is to bring science to the public, is looking for a new home.
The Observatory Science Centre, in Herstmonceux, says it must leave its premises before the end of 2026 after the building’s landlord revealed it will not renewing the lease.
Abbie Rumbold, Interim CEO, said:
“We will be very sad to leave the Observatory, which has been our home for the past 30 years but we are excited at the prospect of finding a new location for our many spectacular interactive science exhibits. We hope that moving will allow us to develop, with more space for science indoors and out and more school and holiday workshops – as well as all you usually expect from us – engaging exhibits, science shows and events. And hopefully all with increased accessibility so that more members of the community can benefit.
Until then it will be business as usual – we are looking forward to a great summer and then a year packed full of events for our 30th anniversary in 2025.
So watch this space and please contact me at abbie@science-projects.org if you know somewhere you think might suit us!”
As well as the Science Centre, Science Projects also has an outreach programme, hires travelling exhibitions to other museums and has a design build workshop in Hampshire that supplies exhibits to science museums globally. It built all of the very popular exhibits at Herstmonceux.
The Science Centre has been bringing science to East Sussex for nearly 30 years after taking over the Observatory in 1995.
At the opening ceremony, astronomer Patrick Moore described it as “Saved for science!”
The site had previously been the Royal Observatory employing nearly 200 scientists having moved from Greenwich in the 1950s. In the early 1990s it fell into disuse until Science Projects set up the Science Centre.
Over the last 30 years, Science Projects has maintained the site and, with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, repaired and upgraded the buildings and equipment so that the majority of the domes and telescopes have been returned to working order and the buildings are now Grade II* listed.
What’s going to happen to the telescopes?